diff --git a/src/app/api/checkout/route.ts b/src/app/api/checkout/route.ts
index 775f94b..05cad72 100644
--- a/src/app/api/checkout/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/checkout/route.ts
@@ -29,23 +29,27 @@ type GuestInfo = {
 };
 
 export async function POST(req: Request) {
-  if (!process.env.STRIPE_SECRET_KEY) {
-    return NextResponse.json(
-      { error: 'Stripe is not configured on this server yet. Add STRIPE_SECRET_KEY to .env.' },
-      { status: 500 },
-    );
-  }
+  try {
+    if (!process.env.STRIPE_SECRET_KEY) {
+      console.error('STRIPE_SECRET_KEY is not configured');
+      return NextResponse.json(
+        { error: 'Stripe is not configured on this server yet. Add STRIPE_SECRET_KEY to .env.' },
+        { status: 500 },
+      );
+    }
 
-  const ip = getClientIp(req.headers);
-  const { allowed } = await checkRateLimit(`checkout:${ip}`, 20, 10 * 60 * 1000);
-  if (!allowed) {
-    return NextResponse.json(
-      { error: 'Too many requests — please wait a moment and try again.' },
-      { status: 429 },
-    );
-  }
+    const ip = getClientIp(req.headers);
+    const { allowed } = await checkRateLimit(`checkout:${ip}`, 20, 10 * 60 * 1000);
+    if (!allowed) {
+      console.error('Rate limit exceeded for IP:', ip);
+      return NextResponse.json(
+        { error: 'Too many requests — please wait a moment and try again.' },
+        { status: 429 },
+      );
+    }
 
-  const body = await req.json();
+    const body = await req.json();
+    console.log('Checkout request received with items:', body.items?.length, 'customerId:', body.customerId);
   const items: CheckoutCartItem[] = body.items ?? [];
   const guest: GuestInfo | undefined = body.guest;
 
@@ -111,6 +115,7 @@ export async function POST(req: Request) {
   const siteUrl = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_SITE_URL ?? 'http://localhost:3000';
 
   try {
+    console.log('Creating Stripe session for order:', order.id, 'total:', total);
     const session = await stripe.checkout.sessions.create({
       mode: 'payment',
       line_items: pricedItems.map((i) => ({
@@ -132,6 +137,8 @@ export async function POST(req: Request) {
       metadata: { orderId: order.id },
     });
 
+    console.log('Stripe session created:', session.id, 'URL:', session.url);
+
     await prisma.order.update({
       where: { id: order.id },
       data: { stripeSessionId: session.id },
@@ -140,8 +147,11 @@ export async function POST(req: Request) {
     return NextResponse.json({ url: session.url });
   } catch (err) {
     // Stripe call failed — don't leave an orphaned PENDING order with no way to pay it.
+    console.error('Stripe session creation failed:', err);
     await prisma.order.delete({ where: { id: order.id } });
     const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Could not start checkout.';
+    console.error('Returning error to client:', message);
     return NextResponse.json({ error: message }, { status: 500 });
   }
 }
+}
diff --git a/src/app/checkout/client.tsx b/src/app/checkout/client.tsx
index 0ab6872..7a72d7b 100644
--- a/src/app/checkout/client.tsx
+++ b/src/app/checkout/client.tsx
@@ -123,12 +123,15 @@ export default function CheckoutPageClient({ isLoggedIn, customer }: CheckoutPag
                       body: JSON.stringify({ items, customerId: customer.id }),
                     });
                     const data = await res.json();
+                    console.log('Checkout response:', { status: res.status, ok: res.ok, data });
                     if (!res.ok || !data.url) {
                       throw new Error(data.error ?? 'Something went wrong starting checkout.');
                     }
                     window.location.href = data.url;
                   } catch (err) {
-                    setCheckoutError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Something went wrong.');
+                    const errorMsg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Something went wrong.';
+                    console.error('Checkout error:', errorMsg);
+                    setCheckoutError(errorMsg);
                     setCheckingOut(false);
                   }
                 }}