diff --git a/ext/theora/gsttheoradec.c b/ext/theora/gsttheoradec.c
index 89810c063c..8a4279fd9c 100644
--- a/ext/theora/gsttheoradec.c
+++ b/ext/theora/gsttheoradec.c
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 
 #define GST_CAT_DEFAULT theoradec_debug
 GST_DEBUG_CATEGORY_STATIC (GST_CAT_DEFAULT);
+GST_DEBUG_CATEGORY_EXTERN (GST_CAT_PERFORMANCE);
 
 #define THEORA_DEF_TELEMETRY_MV 0
 #define THEORA_DEF_TELEMETRY_MBMODE 0
@@ -1166,6 +1167,10 @@ theora_handle_image (GstTheoraDec * dec, th_ycbcr_buffer buf, GstBuffer ** out)
     }
   }
 
+  /* if only libtheora would allow us to give it a destination frame */
+  GST_CAT_TRACE_OBJECT (GST_CAT_PERFORMANCE, dec,
+      "doing unavoidable video frame copy");
+
   for (comp = 0; comp < 3; comp++) {
     width =
         GST_VIDEO_FORMAT_INFO_SCALE_WIDTH (frame.info.finfo, comp, pic_width);