diff --git a/repos/libports/run/smartcard.run b/repos/libports/run/smartcard.run
index ec9fcb908..4b45f304a 100644
--- a/repos/libports/run/smartcard.run
+++ b/repos/libports/run/smartcard.run
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ append config {
 				</dir>
 			</vfs>
 			<libc stdout="/dev/log" stderr="/dev/log" rtc="/dev/rtc"/>
+			<env key="LIBUSB_DEBUG" value="1"/> <!-- log libusb errors -->
 		</config>
 	</start>
 </config>}