diff --git a/src/main/java/tools/jackson/core/util/BufferRecycler.java b/src/main/java/tools/jackson/core/util/BufferRecycler.java
index 944996ef44..86a77e2d1f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/tools/jackson/core/util/BufferRecycler.java
+++ b/src/main/java/tools/jackson/core/util/BufferRecycler.java
@@ -159,18 +159,23 @@ public byte[] allocByteBuffer(int ix, int minSize) {
         }
         byte[] buffer = _byteBuffers.getAndSet(ix, null);
         if (buffer == null || buffer.length < minSize) {
+System.err.print(" [Ab"+ix+"]");
             buffer = balloc(minSize);
         }
+else System.err.print(" [Ub"+ix+"]");
         return buffer;
     }
 
     public void releaseByteBuffer(int ix, byte[] buffer) {
+Objects.requireNonNull(buffer);
         // 13-Jan-2024, tatu: [core#1186] Replace only if beneficial:
         byte[] oldBuffer = _byteBuffers.get(ix);
         if ((oldBuffer == null) || buffer.length > oldBuffer.length) {
+System.err.print(" [Rb"+ix+"]");
             // Could use CAS, but should not really matter
             _byteBuffers.set(ix, buffer);
         }
+else System.err.print(" [FailRb"+ix+"]");
     }
 
     /*
@@ -190,18 +195,23 @@ public char[] allocCharBuffer(int ix, int minSize) {
         }
         char[] buffer = _charBuffers.getAndSet(ix, null);
         if (buffer == null || buffer.length < minSize) {
+System.err.print(" [Ac"+ix+"]");
             buffer = calloc(minSize);
         }
+        else System.err.print(" [Uc"+ix+"]");
         return buffer;
     }
 
     public void releaseCharBuffer(int ix, char[] buffer) {
+Objects.requireNonNull(buffer);
         // 13-Jan-2024, tatu: [core#1186] Replace only if beneficial:
         char[] oldBuffer = _charBuffers.get(ix);
         if ((oldBuffer == null) || buffer.length > oldBuffer.length) {
+System.err.print(" [Rc"+ix+"]");
             // Could use CAS, but should not really matter
             _charBuffers.set(ix, buffer);
         }
+else System.err.print(" [FailRc"+ix+"]");
     }
 
     /*