diff --git a/core/teca_thread_util.cxx b/core/teca_thread_util.cxx
index f0eb9036b..5c12dbf18 100644
--- a/core/teca_thread_util.cxx
+++ b/core/teca_thread_util.cxx
@@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ int thread_parameters(MPI_Comm comm, int base_core_id, int n_requested,
     if (!bind)
     {
         if (verbose)
-            TECA_STATUS("thread to core binding disabled")
+            TECA_STATUS("thread to core binding disabled. n_threads=" << n_threads)
 
         return 0;
     }