diff --git a/tools/wake_word.py b/tools/wake_word.py
index 574bd4394cf..75d98fc8fca 100644
--- a/tools/wake_word.py
+++ b/tools/wake_word.py
@@ -356,13 +356,13 @@ class WakeWordDetector:
             logger.error("wake word: failed to open microphone: %s", e)
             return
 
-        logger.debug("wake word: listening (frame=%d)", frame_length)
+        logger.info("wake word: listening (frame=%d, rate=%d)", frame_length, SAMPLE_RATE)
         try:
             while not self._stop.is_set():
                 try:
                     data, _overflow = stream.read(frame_length)
                 except Exception as e:
-                    logger.debug("wake word: stream read error: %s", e)
+                    logger.warning("wake word: stream read error: %s", e)
                     break
                 frame = data[:, 0] if getattr(data, "ndim", 1) == 2 else data
                 try:
@@ -374,17 +374,20 @@ class WakeWordDetector:
                     now = time.monotonic()
                     if now - self._last_fire >= self.cooldown:
                         self._last_fire = now
+                        logger.info("wake word: phrase detected — firing callback")
                         try:
                             self.on_wake()
                         except Exception as e:
                             logger.warning("wake word callback failed: %s", e)
+                    else:
+                        logger.debug("wake word: detection within cooldown — ignored")
         finally:
             try:
                 stream.stop()
                 stream.close()
             except Exception:
                 pass
-            logger.debug("wake word: stream closed")
+            logger.info("wake word: stream closed")
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/tui_gateway/server.py b/tui_gateway/server.py
index 60d17a865a5..34d05a04cff 100644
--- a/tui_gateway/server.py
+++ b/tui_gateway/server.py
@@ -17628,6 +17628,7 @@ def _wake_on_detect() -> None:
         phrase = wake_phrase()
     except Exception:
         phrase = ""
+    logger.info("wake.detected: emitting to sid=%r", sid)
     _emit("wake.detected", sid, {"phrase": phrase})
 
 
@@ -17652,9 +17653,12 @@ def _(rid, params: dict) -> dict:
 
     cfg = load_wake_word_config()
     if not wake_surface_enabled(surface, cfg):
+        logger.info("wake.start(%s): disabled for surface (enabled=%s, surface=%s)",
+                    surface, cfg.get("enabled"), cfg.get("surface"))
         return _ok(rid, {"started": False, "reason": "disabled_for_surface"})
     reqs = check_wake_word_requirements(cfg)
     if not reqs["available"]:
+        logger.warning("wake.start(%s): not available — %s", surface, reqs.get("hint"))
         return _ok(rid, {"started": False, "reason": reqs.get("hint") or "unavailable"})
 
     with _wake_lock:
@@ -17662,9 +17666,11 @@ def _(rid, params: dict) -> dict:
     try:
         start_listening(_wake_on_detect, config=cfg)
     except Exception as e:
+        logger.warning("wake.start(%s): failed to start listener: %s", surface, e)
         return _err(rid, 5026, str(e))
     with _wake_lock:
         _wake_active = True
+    logger.info("wake.start(%s): listening for %r (%s)", surface, reqs["phrase"], reqs["provider"])
     return _ok(rid, {"started": True, "phrase": reqs["phrase"], "provider": reqs["provider"]})