diff --git a/dist/platforms/ubuntu/steps/runsteps.sh b/dist/platforms/ubuntu/steps/runsteps.sh
index 1885c0ba..94376997 100644
--- a/dist/platforms/ubuntu/steps/runsteps.sh
+++ b/dist/platforms/ubuntu/steps/runsteps.sh
@@ -11,6 +11,12 @@
 #
 STEPS_DIR="${STEPS_DIR:-/steps}"
 
+# TEMPORARY: tracing every command to stderr while diagnosing a real CI
+# failure where a Docker test run produces zero visible stdout before
+# failing near-instantly (game-ci/cli - see the PR this landed in for
+# context). Remove once root-caused.
+set -x
+
 source "$STEPS_DIR/set_extra_git_configs.sh"
 source "$STEPS_DIR/set_gitcredential.sh"