diff --git a/list-generator/backend/app/routers/generate.py b/list-generator/backend/app/routers/generate.py
index 7ebcbc98..fb49aa04 100644
--- a/list-generator/backend/app/routers/generate.py
+++ b/list-generator/backend/app/routers/generate.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from typing import Optional
 import os
 import shutil
 import tempfile
+import traceback
 from ..services.pdf_generator import generate_school_pdf
 
 router = APIRouter()
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ async def generate_list(
                 families_path = os.path.join(temp_dir, "families.csv")
                 with open(families_path, "wb") as buffer:
                     shutil.copyfileobj(families_file.file, buffer)
+            print(f"Generating PDF for: {institution}, Type: {list_type}")
             pdf_path = generate_school_pdf(
                 institution=institution,
                 date_info=date_info,
@@ -35,7 +37,7 @@ async def generate_list(
                 output_dir=temp_dir
             )
             if not pdf_path or not os.path.exists(pdf_path):
-                raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail="PDF generation failed")
+                raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail="PDF generation failed - file not created.")
             with open(pdf_path, "rb") as f:
                 pdf_bytes = f.read()
             final_output_path = os.path.join("/tmp", os.path.basename(pdf_path))
@@ -43,4 +45,6 @@ async def generate_list(
                 f.write(pdf_bytes)
             return FileResponse(path=final_output_path, filename=os.path.basename(pdf_path), media_type="application/pdf")
     except Exception as e:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail=str(e))
+        print("ERROR IN GENERATE LIST:")
+        traceback.print_exc()
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail=f"Internal Server Error: {str(e)}")