diff --git a/iterator/iterator.c b/iterator/iterator.c
index 5f90310c8..fdf3ebe3a 100644
--- a/iterator/iterator.c
+++ b/iterator/iterator.c
@@ -1424,11 +1424,15 @@ processQueryResponse(struct module_qstate* qstate, struct iter_qstate* iq,
 			iq->response->rep, iq->response->rep->an_numrrsets,
 			iq->response->rep->an_numrrsets 
 			+ iq->response->rep->ns_numrrsets);
-		if(!ns) find_NS(iq->response->rep, 0, 
+		if(!ns) ns = find_NS(iq->response->rep, 0, 
 				iq->response->rep->an_numrrsets);
 		if(!ns || !dname_strict_subdomain_c(ns->rk.dname, iq->dp->name) 
 			|| !dname_subdomain_c(iq->qchase.qname, ns->rk.dname)){
 			verbose(VERB_ALGO, "bad referral, throwaway");
+			if(!ns) log_info("no ns");
+			log_query_info(0, "qchase", &iq->qchase);
+			log_nametypeclass(0, "dp", iq->dp->name, 0, 0);
+			log_nametypeclass(0, "ns", ns->rk.dname, 0, 0);
 			type = RESPONSE_TYPE_THROWAWAY;
 		}
 	}