diff --git a/doc/stages/writers.las.rst b/doc/stages/writers.las.rst
index 028dd66735..84bc0a8533 100644
--- a/doc/stages/writers.las.rst
+++ b/doc/stages/writers.las.rst
@@ -159,9 +159,11 @@ extra_dims
   extra dimensions specified by this option.
 
   The special value 'all' can be used in place of a dimension/type list
-  to request
-  that all dimensions that can't be stored in the predefined LAS point
-  record get added as extra data at the end of each point record.
+  to request that all dimensions that can't be stored in the predefined
+  LAS point record get added as extra data at the end of each point record.
+
+  Setting --verbose=Info will provide output on the names, types and order
+  of dimensions being written as part of the LAS extra bytes.
 
 .. _LAS format: http://asprs.org/Committee-General/LASer-LAS-File-Format-Exchange-Activities.html
 
diff --git a/io/LasWriter.cpp b/io/LasWriter.cpp
index 732e04e3a3..7bd994792a 100644
--- a/io/LasWriter.cpp
+++ b/io/LasWriter.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include <iostream>
 
 #include <pdal/Compression.hpp>
+#include <pdal/DimUtil.hpp>
 #include <pdal/PDALUtils.hpp>
 #include <pdal/PointView.hpp>
 #include <pdal/util/Algorithm.hpp>
@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ void LasWriter::spatialReferenceChanged(const SpatialReference&)
     if (++m_srsCnt > 1)
         log()->get(LogLevel::Error) << getName() <<
             ": Attempting to write '" << m_filename << "' with multiple "
-            "point spatial references.";
+            "point spatial references." << std::endl;
 }
 
 
@@ -149,6 +150,10 @@ void LasWriter::prepared(PointTableRef table)
 
     PointLayoutPtr layout = table.layout();
 
+    // Make sure the dataformatID is set so that we can get the proper
+    // dimensions being written as part of the standard LAS record.
+    fillHeader();
+
     // If we've asked for all dimensions, add to extraDims all dimensions
     // in the layout that aren't already destined for LAS output.
     if (m_extraDims.size() == 1 && m_extraDims[0].m_name == "all")
@@ -176,6 +181,10 @@ void LasWriter::prepared(PointTableRef table)
             throw pdal_error(oss.str());
         }
         m_extraByteLen += Dimension::size(dim.m_dimType.m_type);
+        log()->get(LogLevel::Info) << getName() << ": Writing dimension " <<
+            dim.m_name <<
+            "(" << Dimension::interpretationName(dim.m_dimType.m_type) <<
+            ") " << " to LAS extra bytes." << std::endl;
     }
 }