diff --git a/src/hb-ot-shaper-syllabic.cc b/src/hb-ot-shaper-syllabic.cc
index 89226ae4a..97f62035c 100644
--- a/src/hb-ot-shaper-syllabic.cc
+++ b/src/hb-ot-shaper-syllabic.cc
@@ -40,6 +40,14 @@ hb_syllabic_insert_dotted_circles (hb_font_t *font,
   if (unlikely (buffer->flags & HB_BUFFER_FLAG_DO_NOT_INSERT_DOTTED_CIRCLE))
     return false;
   if (likely (!(buffer->scratch_flags & HB_BUFFER_SCRATCH_FLAG_HAS_BROKEN_SYLLABLE)))
+  {
+    if (buffer->messaging ())
+      (void) buffer->message (font, "skipped inserting dotted-circles because there is no broken syllables");
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  if (buffer->messaging () &&
+      !buffer->message (font, "start inserting dotted-circles"))
     return false;
 
   hb_codepoint_t dottedcircle_glyph;
@@ -84,6 +92,10 @@ hb_syllabic_insert_dotted_circles (hb_font_t *font,
       (void) buffer->next_glyph ();
   }
   buffer->sync ();
+
+  if (buffer->messaging ())
+    (void) buffer->message (font, "end inserting dotted-circles");
+
   return true;
 }