diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py b/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
index 57f5ac08e398..9c3f7e698cde 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
@@ -428,7 +428,9 @@ def switch_backend(newbackend: str) -> None:
         for candidate in candidates:
             try:
                 switch_backend(candidate)
-            except ImportError:
+            except ImportError as exc:
+                _log.debug("Skipping backend candidate %r as loading failed.",
+                           candidate, exc_info=True)
                 continue
             else:
                 rcParamsOrig['backend'] = candidate