diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate-pr.yml b/.github/workflows/validate-pr.yml
index 73323ad6de2f..9110edd3a5a8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/validate-pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate-pr.yml
@@ -56,12 +56,16 @@ jobs:
       - name: Check release branch
         id: title_branch
         run: |
+          set -x
+
           # get the intended major version prefix ("[27.1 backport]" -> "27.") from the PR title.
           [[ "$PR_TITLE" =~ ^\[\([0-9]*\.\)[^]]*\] ]] && branch="${BASH_REMATCH[1]}"
 
           # get major version prefix from the release branch ("27.x -> "27.")
           [[ "$GITHUB_BASE_REF" =~ ^\([0-9]*\.\) ]] && target_branch="${BASH_REMATCH[1]}"
 
+          printenv
+
           if [[ "$GITHUB_BASE_REF" != "$branch" ]] && ! [[ "$GITHUB_BASE_REF" == "master" && "$branch" == "" ]]; then
               echo "::error::PR is opened against the $GITHUB_BASE_REF branch, but its title suggests otherwise."
               exit 1