diff --git a/grep.c b/grep.c
index f96d86c929..7d262a23d8 100644
--- a/grep.c
+++ b/grep.c
@@ -42,15 +42,25 @@ static struct grep_opt grep_defaults = {
 
 #ifdef USE_LIBPCRE2
 static pcre2_general_context *pcre2_global_context;
+#define GREP_PCRE2_DEBUG_MALLOC 0
 
 static void *pcre2_malloc(PCRE2_SIZE size, MAYBE_UNUSED void *memory_data)
 {
 	void *pointer = malloc(size);
+#if GREP_PCRE2_DEBUG_MALLOC
+	static int count = 1;
+	fprintf(stderr, "PCRE2:%p -> #%02d: alloc(%lu)\n", pointer, count++, size);
+#endif
 	return pointer;
 }
 
 static void pcre2_free(void *pointer, MAYBE_UNUSED void *memory_data)
 {
+#if GREP_PCRE2_DEBUG_MALLOC
+	static int count = 1;
+	if (pointer)
+		fprintf(stderr, "PCRE2:%p -> #%02d: free()\n", pointer, count++);
+#endif
 	free(pointer);
 }
 #endif