diff --git a/node/core/approval-voting/src/lib.rs b/node/core/approval-voting/src/lib.rs
index 78daa39e5626..3de472fa21c5 100644
--- a/node/core/approval-voting/src/lib.rs
+++ b/node/core/approval-voting/src/lib.rs
@@ -827,11 +827,27 @@ async fn handle_approved_ancestor(
 								);
 							}
 							Some(a_entry) => {
-								let our_assignment = a_entry.our_assignment();
-								tracing::debug!(
-									target: LOG_TARGET,
-									?our_assignment,
-								);
+								match a_entry.our_assignment() {
+									None => tracing::debug!(
+										target: LOG_TARGET,
+										?candidate_hash,
+										?block_hash,
+										"no assignment."
+									),
+									Some(a) => {
+										let tranche = a.tranche();
+										let triggered = a.triggered();
+
+										tracing::debug!(
+											target: LOG_TARGET,
+											?candidate_hash,
+											?block_hash,
+											tranche,
+											triggered,
+											"assigned"
+										);
+									}
+								}
 							}
 						}
 					}
diff --git a/node/core/candidate-selection/src/lib.rs b/node/core/candidate-selection/src/lib.rs
index 077fb340d7d7..a12e25b234cf 100644
--- a/node/core/candidate-selection/src/lib.rs
+++ b/node/core/candidate-selection/src/lib.rs
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ use polkadot_node_subsystem_util::{
 	JobTrait, FromJobCommand, Validator, metrics::{self, prometheus},
 };
 use polkadot_primitives::v1::{
-	CandidateReceipt, CollatorId, CoreState, CoreIndex, Hash, Id as ParaId, PoV,
+	CandidateReceipt, CollatorId, CoreState, CoreIndex, Hash, Id as ParaId, PoV, BlockNumber,
 };
 use polkadot_node_primitives::SignedFullStatement;
 use std::{pin::Pin, sync::Arc};
@@ -139,30 +139,47 @@ impl JobTrait for CandidateSelectionJob {
 				.with_stage(jaeger::Stage::CandidateSelection)
 				.build();
 
-			let mut assignment = None;
+			#[derive(Debug)]
+			enum AssignmentState {
+				Unassigned,
+				Scheduled(ParaId),
+				Occupied(BlockNumber),
+				Free,
+			}
+
+			let mut assignment = AssignmentState::Unassigned;
 
 			for (idx, core) in cores.into_iter().enumerate() {
-				// Ignore prospective assignments on occupied cores for the time being.
-				if let CoreState::Scheduled(scheduled) = core {
-					let core_index = CoreIndex(idx as _);
-					let group_index = group_rotation_info.group_for_core(core_index, n_cores);
-					if let Some(g) = validator_groups.get(group_index.0 as usize) {
-						if g.contains(&validator.index()) {
-							assignment = Some(scheduled.para_id);
-							break;
+				let core_index = CoreIndex(idx as _);
+				let group_index = group_rotation_info.group_for_core(core_index, n_cores);
+				if let Some(g) = validator_groups.get(group_index.0 as usize) {
+					if g.contains(&validator.index()) {
+						match core {
+							CoreState::Scheduled(scheduled) => {
+								assignment = AssignmentState::Scheduled(scheduled.para_id);
+							}
+							CoreState::Occupied(occupied) => {
+								// Ignore prospective assignments on occupied cores
+								// for the time being.
+								assignment = AssignmentState::Occupied(occupied.occupied_since);
+							}
+							CoreState::Free => {
+								assignment = AssignmentState::Free;
+							}
 						}
+						break;
 					}
 				}
 			}
 
 			let assignment = match assignment {
-				Some(assignment) => {
+				AssignmentState::Scheduled(assignment) => {
 					assignment_span.add_string_tag("assigned", "true");
 					assignment_span.add_para_id(assignment);
 
 					assignment
 				}
-				None => {
+				assignment => {
 					assignment_span.add_string_tag("assigned", "false");
 
 					let validator_index = validator.index();
@@ -173,6 +190,7 @@ impl JobTrait for CandidateSelectionJob {
 						?relay_parent,
 						?validator_index,
 						?validator_id,
+						?assignment,
 						"No assignment. Will not select candidate."
 					);