diff --git a/src/main/java/org/breedinginsight/daos/cache/ProgramCache.java b/src/main/java/org/breedinginsight/daos/cache/ProgramCache.java
index cb28fb67f..d231116ae 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/breedinginsight/daos/cache/ProgramCache.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/breedinginsight/daos/cache/ProgramCache.java
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ public void populate(List<UUID> keys) {
 
     public void populate(@NotNull UUID key) {
         String cacheKey = generateCacheKey(key);
+        log.debug("populate(UUID key) method called with key: " + cacheKey);
         RSemaphore semaphore = connection.getSemaphore(cacheKey+":semaphore");
         semaphore.trySetPermits(1);
 
@@ -72,7 +73,7 @@ public void populate(@NotNull UUID key) {
                 next refresh will pick up data persisted by this thread
              */
             if(queueSemaphore.tryAcquire()) {
-                log.debug("Attempting to refresh");
+                log.debug("Attempting to refresh for: " + cacheKey);
                 try {
                     // block until we get the green light to refresh the cache
                     semaphore.acquire();
@@ -110,6 +111,8 @@ public void populate(@NotNull UUID key) {
                         RMap<String, String> map = connection.getMap(cacheKey);
                         map.clear();
                         map.putAll(entryMap);
+                    } else {
+                        log.debug("No values to cache for key: " + cacheKey);
                     }
                     log.debug("cache loading complete for key: " + cacheKey);
                 } catch (Exception e) {
@@ -139,11 +142,11 @@ public Map<String, R> get(UUID key) throws ApiException {
         if (!connection.getBucket(cacheKey).isExists()) {
             RSemaphore semaphore = connection.getSemaphore(cacheKey + ":semaphore");
             try {
-                log.debug("cache miss, populating");
+                log.debug("cache miss, populating for key: " + cacheKey);
                 populate(key);
                 //block until any updates are done
                 semaphore.acquire();
-                log.debug("Cache loading done!!!!");
+                log.debug("Cache loading done!!!! - key: " + cacheKey);
             } catch(Exception e){
                 throw new ApiException(e);
             } finally {