diff --git a/src/lib/client_failover.c b/src/lib/client_failover.c
index ab85f522..238b7722 100644
--- a/src/lib/client_failover.c
+++ b/src/lib/client_failover.c
@@ -388,8 +388,11 @@ bool xcecli_retry_next(api_ctx_t* ac, int* rc, bool is_write,
     int port = (ac->conf != NULL && cur >= 0 && cur < ac->conf->nmasters)
                    ? ac->conf->master_ports[cur]
                    : 0;
-    INFO("xcecli failover: attempt %d → %s:%d", st->attempt,
-         host ? host : "(null)", port);
+    /* bug-1850: include the status that triggered this rotation -- without
+     * it a log cannot tell a dead connection from a healthy primary's
+     * commit-timeout or admission-backpressure reply. */
+    INFO("xcecli failover: attempt %d → %s:%d (after status=%d)", st->attempt,
+         host ? host : "(null)", port, *rc);
 
     /* ReconnectRejoinHook (1.2): a stateful consumer re-establishes its session
      * on the freshly-connected primary AFTER reconnect/recovery and BEFORE the