diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index cef02f2..68bbb2a 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ org.gradle.configuration-cache=false
 
 # Mod
 mod_id=video_player
-mod_version=0.4.38
+mod_version=0.4.39
 maven_group=com.ejclaw.videoplayer
 archives_base_name=video_player
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/ejclaw/videoplayer/client/playback/VideoPlayback.java b/src/main/java/com/ejclaw/videoplayer/client/playback/VideoPlayback.java
index 5a6a72f..8ab512b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/ejclaw/videoplayer/client/playback/VideoPlayback.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/ejclaw/videoplayer/client/playback/VideoPlayback.java
@@ -68,6 +68,19 @@ public final class VideoPlayback {
         String source = cached != null
             ? cached.toAbsolutePath().toString()
             : VideoCache.encodeUrl(be.getUrl());
+        // Diagnostic: record, per anchor, whether this play resolved to the local cache file or
+        // fell back to a live network stream. A LIVE STREAM line on a video that doesn't show
+        // means a cache miss (download hadn't finished / failed) and the failure is on the
+        // network/decoder-open path; a CACHE line that still doesn't show means the local file
+        // decoded badly. This is the single fact that splits "cache problem" from "decode
+        // problem" when comparing two clients' logs.
+        if (cached != null) {
+            VideoPlayerMod.LOG.info("[{}] play {} at {} -> CACHE {}",
+                VideoPlayerMod.MOD_ID, be.getUrl(), pos.toShortString(), cached.getFileName());
+        } else {
+            VideoPlayerMod.LOG.info("[{}] play {} at {} -> LIVE STREAM (not cached yet)",
+                VideoPlayerMod.MOD_ID, be.getUrl(), pos.toShortString());
+        }
         backend.play(source, be.isLoop());
         backend.setVolume(be.isMuted() ? 0F : be.getVolume());