diff --git a/doc/conf.py b/doc/conf.py
index 4c592bf8fe01..e9645fdbeb56 100644
--- a/doc/conf.py
+++ b/doc/conf.py
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@
 from datetime import datetime
 import time
 
+# debug that building expected version
+print(f"Building Documentation for Matplotlib: {matplotlib.__version__}")
+
 # Release mode enables optimizations and other related options.
 is_release_build = tags.has('release')  # noqa