diff --git a/service.go b/service.go
index e7c7f25..0a02d2a 100644
--- a/service.go
+++ b/service.go
@@ -66,9 +66,12 @@ func (s *DefaultService) Subscribe(ctx context.Context, topic string) (*subscrip
 	s.subsMu.Lock()
 	defer s.subsMu.Unlock()
 
-	defer log.Debugw("subscribed to topic")
+	log.Debugw("creating topic if new")
 	ps := s.createSubIfNew(topic)
-	return ps.subscribe(ctx), nil
+
+	log.Debugw("creating subscription")
+	sub := ps.subscribe(ctx)
+	return sub, nil
 }
 
 func (s *DefaultService) createSubIfNew(topic string) *pubsub {
@@ -88,16 +91,29 @@ func (s *DefaultService) createSubIfNew(topic string) *pubsub {
 }
 
 func (s *DefaultService) Barrier(ctx context.Context, state string, target int) error {
+	log := log.With("state", state, "target", target)
+	log.Debugw("subscribing to topic")
+
 	if target == 0 {
-		log.Warnw("requested a barrier with target zero; satisfying immediately", "state", state)
+		log.Warnw("requested a barrier with target zero; satisfying immediately")
 		return nil
 	}
 
 	s.barriersMu.Lock()
+	log.Debugw("creating state if new")
 	barrier := s.createBarrierIfNew(state)
 	s.barriersMu.Unlock()
 
-	return barrier.wait(ctx, target)
+	log.Debugw("waiting for barrier")
+	err := barrier.wait(ctx, target)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Debugw("barrier errored", "err", err)
+	} else {
+		log.Debugw("barrier satisfied")
+	}
+
+	return err
 }
 
 func (s *DefaultService) SignalEntry(ctx context.Context, state string) (int, error) {