diff --git a/src/uu/chown/src/chown.rs b/src/uu/chown/src/chown.rs
index 18c64d60e..9d2cad1c3 100644
--- a/src/uu/chown/src/chown.rs
+++ b/src/uu/chown/src/chown.rs
@@ -220,7 +220,8 @@ fn parse_spec(spec: &str, sep: char) -> UResult<(Option<u32>, Option<u32>)> {
             Ok(g) => g.gid,
             Err(_) => match group.parse() {
                 Ok(gid) => gid,
-                Err(_) => {
+                Err(e) => {
+                    eprintln!("error {}, user {}, group {}, uid {:?}", e, user, group, uid);
                     return Err(USimpleError::new(
                         1,
                         format!("invalid group: {}", spec.quote()),