diff --git a/cpu/esp8266/esp-wifi/esp_wifi_netdev.c b/cpu/esp8266/esp-wifi/esp_wifi_netdev.c
index 09066cdc2996a47b959a1861981d49f934a336ac..0e600e1fc1d02e188014a1b4fde83eec1a58fd66 100644
--- a/cpu/esp8266/esp-wifi/esp_wifi_netdev.c
+++ b/cpu/esp8266/esp-wifi/esp_wifi_netdev.c
@@ -141,6 +141,8 @@ static void IRAM _esp_wifi_reconnect_timer_cb(void* arg)
 
     if (dev->state == ESP_WIFI_DISCONNECTED ||
         dev->state == ESP_WIFI_CONNECTING) {
+        ESP_WIFI_LOG_INFO("trying to reconnect to ssid " ESP_WIFI_SSID);
+
         wifi_station_disconnect();
         wifi_station_connect();
         dev->state = ESP_WIFI_CONNECTING;