diff --git a/src/app/api/research/route.ts b/src/app/api/research/route.ts
index faed28e..756523f 100644
--- a/src/app/api/research/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/research/route.ts
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ export async function POST(req: NextRequest) {
   let postsPerHour = 0
   try {
     postsPerHour = await getPostsPerHour(tag)
-  } catch {
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error('[research] Mastodon fetch failed:', err)
     return NextResponse.json(
       { error: 'Could not reach Mastodon. Try again later.' },
       { status: 502 },