diff --git a/cmake/DARTFindIPOPT.cmake b/cmake/DARTFindIPOPT.cmake
index 96f879a7b3559..5a9f16f940c76 100644
--- a/cmake/DARTFindIPOPT.cmake
+++ b/cmake/DARTFindIPOPT.cmake
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 
 find_package(IPOPT 3.11.9 QUIET MODULE)
 
+message(STATUS "[DEBUG] IPOPT_FOUND: ${IPOPT_FOUND}")
+
 # HAVE_CSTDDEF is necessary to workaround this bug:
 # https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=684062
 if(IPOPT_FOUND AND NOT TARGET IPOPT::ipopt)