diff --git a/vlib/v/ast/ast.v b/vlib/v/ast/ast.v
index 911a90c4c5..3ec290ef12 100644
--- a/vlib/v/ast/ast.v
+++ b/vlib/v/ast/ast.v
@@ -469,7 +469,8 @@ pub:
 // That array is then passed to V's checker.
 pub struct File {
 pub:
-	path         string // path of the source file
+	path         string // absolute path of the source file - '/projects/v/file.v'
+	path_base    string // file name - 'file.v' (useful for tracing)
 	mod          Module // the module of the source file (from `module xyz` at the top)
 	global_scope &Scope
 pub mut:
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
index f1a33cf973..f6af31448b 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
@@ -5298,3 +5298,9 @@ fn (mut c Checker) verify_all_vweb_routes() {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+fn (mut c Checker) trace(fbase string, message string) {
+	if c.file.path_base == fbase {
+		println('> c.trace | ${fbase:-10s} | $message')
+	}
+}
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/cgen.v b/vlib/v/gen/cgen.v
index 19ba147ca1..f4fadcabe7 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/cgen.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/cgen.v
@@ -5850,3 +5850,9 @@ pub fn get_guarded_include_text(iname string, imessage string) string {
 	'.strip_margin()
 	return res
 }
+
+fn (mut g Gen) trace(fbase string, message string) {
+	if g.file.path_base == fbase {
+		println('> g.trace | ${fbase:-10s} | $message')
+	}
+}
diff --git a/vlib/v/parser/parser.v b/vlib/v/parser/parser.v
index 7aef071a13..1b44ae2104 100644
--- a/vlib/v/parser/parser.v
+++ b/vlib/v/parser/parser.v
@@ -232,6 +232,7 @@ pub fn (mut p Parser) parse() ast.File {
 	//
 	return ast.File{
 		path: p.file_name
+		path_base: p.file_base
 		mod: module_decl
 		imports: p.ast_imports
 		imported_symbols: p.imported_symbols