diff --git a/core/docs/changelog/ZO-859.change b/core/docs/changelog/ZO-859.change
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..204a522ed2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/docs/changelog/ZO-859.change
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ZO-859: Log XML body after checkout to aid debugging
diff --git a/core/src/zeit/cms/checkout/manager.py b/core/src/zeit/cms/checkout/manager.py
index a16cb19dfb..0e323f46c9 100644
--- a/core/src/zeit/cms/checkout/manager.py
+++ b/core/src/zeit/cms/checkout/manager.py
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
+import logging
+
 import grokcore.component as grok
+import lxml.etree
 import pendulum
 import zope.app.locking.interfaces
 import zope.cachedescriptors.property
@@ -8,6 +11,7 @@
 import zope.interface
 import zope.security.proxy
 
+from zeit.cms.content.interfaces import IXMLRepresentation
 from zeit.cms.i18n import MessageFactory as _
 import zeit.cms.checkout.interfaces
 import zeit.cms.interfaces
@@ -17,6 +21,9 @@
 import zeit.objectlog.interfaces
 
 
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
 @zope.component.adapter(zeit.cms.interfaces.ICMSContent)
 @zope.interface.implementer(
     zeit.cms.checkout.interfaces.ICheckoutManager, zeit.cms.checkout.interfaces.ICheckinManager
@@ -102,6 +109,12 @@ def checkout(self, event=True, temporary=False, publishing=False):
                 )
             )
 
+        # XXX Debug helper, see ZO-859
+        log_body = config.get('checkout-log-body', '').lower() == 'true'
+        if log_body and IXMLRepresentation.providedBy(added):
+            body = lxml.etree.tostring(added.xml, pretty_print=True, encoding=str)
+            log.info('%s checked out %s:\n%s', self.principal.id, added, body)
+
         return workingcopy[name]
 
     @property