diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_backup.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_backup.go
index d169beb2b..63a652cbf 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_backup.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_backup.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/backend"
+	"github.com/restic/restic/debug"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/filter"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/repository"
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/ssh/terminal"
@@ -300,6 +301,10 @@ func (cmd CmdBackup) Execute(args []string) error {
 			cmd.global.Warnf("error for exclude pattern: %v", err)
 		}
 
+		if matched {
+			debug.Log("backup.Execute", "path %q excluded by a filter", item)
+		}
+
 		return !matched
 	}