diff --git a/lang/ast/structs.go b/lang/ast/structs.go
index 3df8e522..51892b57 100644
--- a/lang/ast/structs.go
+++ b/lang/ast/structs.go
@@ -8128,6 +8128,9 @@ func (obj *ExprCall) SetScope(scope *interfaces.Scope, sctx map[string]interface
 		} else {
 			f, exists := obj.scope.Variables[obj.Name]
 			if !exists {
+				if obj.data.Debug || true { // TODO: leave this on permanently?
+					lambdaScopeFeedback(obj.scope, obj.data.Logf)
+				}
 				return fmt.Errorf("func `%s` does not exist in this scope", prefixedName)
 			}
 			target = f
@@ -8137,6 +8140,9 @@ func (obj *ExprCall) SetScope(scope *interfaces.Scope, sctx map[string]interface
 		prefixedName = obj.Name
 		f, exists := obj.scope.Functions[obj.Name]
 		if !exists {
+			if obj.data.Debug || true { // TODO: leave this on permanently?
+				functionScopeFeedback(obj.scope, obj.data.Logf)
+			}
 			return fmt.Errorf("func `%s` does not exist in this scope", prefixedName)
 		}
 		target = f
@@ -8727,6 +8733,9 @@ func (obj *ExprVar) SetScope(scope *interfaces.Scope, sctx map[string]interfaces
 
 	target, exists := obj.scope.Variables[obj.Name]
 	if !exists {
+		if obj.data.Debug || true { // TODO: leave this on permanently?
+			variableScopeFeedback(obj.scope, obj.data.Logf)
+		}
 		return fmt.Errorf("variable %s not in scope", obj.Name)
 	}
 
diff --git a/lang/ast/util.go b/lang/ast/util.go
index 11105b64..4c4e7123 100644
--- a/lang/ast/util.go
+++ b/lang/ast/util.go
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ package ast
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 
@@ -340,3 +341,55 @@ func trueCallee(apparentCallee interfaces.Expr) interfaces.Expr {
 		return apparentCallee
 	}
 }
+
+// variableScopeFeedback logs some messages about what is actually in scope so
+// that the user gets a hint about what's going on. This is useful for catching
+// bugs in our programming or in user code!
+func variableScopeFeedback(scope *interfaces.Scope, logf func(format string, v ...interface{})) {
+	logf("variables in scope:")
+	names := []string{}
+	for name := range scope.Variables {
+		names = append(names, name)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(names)
+	for _, name := range names {
+		logf("$%s", name)
+	}
+}
+
+// functionScopeFeedback logs some messages about what is actually in scope so
+// that the user gets a hint about what's going on. This is useful for catching
+// bugs in our programming or in user code!
+func functionScopeFeedback(scope *interfaces.Scope, logf func(format string, v ...interface{})) {
+	logf("functions in scope:")
+	names := []string{}
+	for name := range scope.Functions {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(name, "_") { // hidden function
+			continue
+		}
+		names = append(names, name)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(names)
+	for _, name := range names {
+		logf("%s(...)", name)
+	}
+}
+
+// lambdaScopeFeedback logs some messages about what is actually in scope so
+// that the user gets a hint about what's going on. This is useful for catching
+// bugs in our programming or in user code!
+func lambdaScopeFeedback(scope *interfaces.Scope, logf func(format string, v ...interface{})) {
+	logf("lambdas in scope:")
+	names := []string{}
+	for name, val := range scope.Variables {
+		// XXX: Is this a valid way to filter?
+		if _, ok := trueCallee(val).(*ExprFunc); !ok {
+			continue
+		}
+		names = append(names, name)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(names)
+	for _, name := range names {
+		logf("$%s(...)", name)
+	}
+}