diff --git a/cmd/bootstrap/cmd/finalize.go b/cmd/bootstrap/cmd/finalize.go
index b9d0b79a19e..dbc36384721 100644
--- a/cmd/bootstrap/cmd/finalize.go
+++ b/cmd/bootstrap/cmd/finalize.go
@@ -285,9 +285,10 @@ func readRootBlockVotes() []*hotstuff.Vote {
 		}
 
 		// read file and append to partners
-		var p hotstuff.Vote
-		readJSON(f, &p)
-		votes = append(votes, &p)
+		var vote hotstuff.Vote
+		readJSON(f, &vote)
+		votes = append(votes, &vote)
+		log.Info().Msgf("read vote %v for block %v from signerID %v", vote.ID(), vote.BlockID, vote.SignerID)
 	}
 	return votes
 }
diff --git a/cmd/bootstrap/cmd/finalize_test.go b/cmd/bootstrap/cmd/finalize_test.go
index 38669ec0484..cc234539f7b 100644
--- a/cmd/bootstrap/cmd/finalize_test.go
+++ b/cmd/bootstrap/cmd/finalize_test.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ const finalizeHappyPathLogs = "^deterministic bootstrapping random seed" +
 	`assembling network and staking keys` +
 	`reading root block data` +
 	`reading root block votes` +
+	`read vote .*` +
 	`reading dkg data` +
 	`constructing root QC` +
 	`computing collection node clusters` +
diff --git a/cmd/bootstrap/run/qc.go b/cmd/bootstrap/run/qc.go
index 15c5af9fa79..eaa4eb96e14 100644
--- a/cmd/bootstrap/run/qc.go
+++ b/cmd/bootstrap/run/qc.go
@@ -65,7 +65,11 @@ func GenerateRootQC(block *flow.Block, votes []*model.Vote, participantData *Par
 	for _, vote := range votes {
 		err := processor.Process(vote)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("fail to process vote %v for block %v from signer %v: %w",
+				vote.ID(),
+				block.ID(),
+				vote.SignerID,
+				err)
 		}
 	}