diff --git a/src/blackcore/application.cpp b/src/blackcore/application.cpp
index 6a22d7be1..20b153cd0 100644
--- a/src/blackcore/application.cpp
+++ b/src/blackcore/application.cpp
@@ -1046,12 +1046,18 @@ namespace BlackCore
         if (m_shutdownInProgress) { return; }
         m_shutdownInProgress = true;
 
+        CLogMessage(this).info(u"Graceful shutdown of CApplication started");
+
         // info that we will shutdown
         emit this->aboutToShutdown();
 
         // Release all input devices to not cause any accidental hotkey triggers anymore.
         // This is also necessary to properly free platform specific instances at a defined point in time.
-        if (m_inputManager) { m_inputManager->releaseDevices(); }
+        if (m_inputManager)
+        {
+            CLogMessage(this).info(u"Graceful shutdown of CApplication, released devices");
+            m_inputManager->releaseDevices();
+        }
 
         // mark as shutdown
         if (m_networkWatchDog) { m_networkWatchDog->gracefulShutdown(); }
@@ -1071,6 +1077,8 @@ namespace BlackCore
 
         if (this->supportsContexts())
         {
+            CLogMessage(this).info(u"Graceful shutdown of CApplication, shutdown of contexts");
+
             // clean up facade
             m_coreFacade->gracefulShutdown();
             m_coreFacade.reset();
@@ -1078,6 +1086,8 @@ namespace BlackCore
 
         if (m_webDataServices)
         {
+            CLogMessage(this).info(u"Graceful shutdown of CApplication, shutdown of web services");
+
             m_webDataServices->gracefulShutdown();
             m_webDataServices.reset();
         }
@@ -1094,8 +1104,10 @@ namespace BlackCore
             m_networkWatchDog = nullptr;
         }
 
+        CLogMessage(this).info(u"Graceful shutdown of CApplication, shutdown of logger");
         m_fileLogger->close();
 
+        // clean up all in "deferred delete state"
         qApp->sendPostedEvents(nullptr, QEvent::DeferredDelete);
 
         sApp = nullptr;
diff --git a/src/blackgui/guiapplication.cpp b/src/blackgui/guiapplication.cpp
index dae3b97f8..0fe93f5b9 100644
--- a/src/blackgui/guiapplication.cpp
+++ b/src/blackgui/guiapplication.cpp
@@ -1325,8 +1325,10 @@ namespace BlackGui
     {
         if (m_shutdownInProgress) { return; }
         CApplication::gracefulShutdown();
+        CLogMessage(this).info(u"Graceful shutdown of GUI application started");
         if (m_saveMainWidgetState)
         {
+            CLogMessage(this).info(u"Graceful shutdown, saving geometry");
             this->saveWindowGeometryAndState();
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/swiftguistandard/main.cpp b/src/swiftguistandard/main.cpp
index c8969af3f..4e2dfa713 100644
--- a/src/swiftguistandard/main.cpp
+++ b/src/swiftguistandard/main.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <QApplication>
+#include <QTextStream>
 
 using namespace BlackGui;
 using namespace BlackMisc;
@@ -49,6 +50,13 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     SwiftGuiStd w(windowMode);
     w.show();
 
-    int r = a.exec();
+    const int r = a.exec();
+
+    // log we are really closing
+    QTextStream ts(stdout);
+    ts << "swift is closing now ......\n";
+    ts.flush();
+
+    // bye
     return r;
 }