diff --git a/pyclesperanto/__init__.py b/pyclesperanto/__init__.py
index 50913e87..b667ec4d 100644
--- a/pyclesperanto/__init__.py
+++ b/pyclesperanto/__init__.py
@@ -27,4 +27,6 @@
 
 from ._interroperability import *  # isort:skip
 
+print(f"pyclesperanto version: {__version__}")
+
 default_initialisation()
diff --git a/pyclesperanto/_core.py b/pyclesperanto/_core.py
index f5112099..71512556 100644
--- a/pyclesperanto/_core.py
+++ b/pyclesperanto/_core.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ def select_device(device_id: Union[str, int] = "", device_type: str = "all") ->
     -------
     device : Device
     """
+    print("\t\tselecting device ...")
     if isinstance(device_id, str):
         device = BackendManager.get_backend().getDeviceFromName(device_id, device_type)
     elif isinstance(device_id, int):
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ def select_device(device_id: Union[str, int] = "", device_type: str = "all") ->
     if _current_device._instance and device == _current_device._instance:
         return _current_device._instance
     _current_device._instance = device
+    print("\t\tdone!")
     return device
 
 
@@ -92,12 +94,14 @@ def list_available_backends() -> list:
     -------
     name list : list[str]
     """
+    print("\tlist available backends ...")
     back_list = list(BackendManager.get_backends_list())
     if not back_list:
         warnings.warn(
             "No backend available. Please install either OpenCL or CUDA on your system.",
             RuntimeWarning,
         )
+    print("\tdone!")
     return back_list
 
 
@@ -112,7 +116,7 @@ def select_backend(backend: str = "opencl") -> str:
     type : str, default = "opencl"
         determine the backend to use between opencl and cuda
     """
-
+    print("\tset backend ...")
     # enforce lowercase for backend_type
     backend = backend.lower()
     # is backend_type is different than "cuda" or "opencl", raise an error
@@ -121,8 +125,11 @@ def select_backend(backend: str = "opencl") -> str:
             f"'{backend}' is not a supported Backend. Please use either 'opencl' or 'cuda'."
         )
     BackendManager.set_backend(backend=backend)
+    print("\tdone!")
     # reset current device to default one
+    print("\tset default device ...")
     select_device()
+    print("\tdone!")
     return f"{BackendManager.get_backend()} selected."
 
 
@@ -148,12 +155,15 @@ def wait_for_kernel_to_finish(wait: bool = True, device: Device = None):
 
 def default_initialisation():
     """Set default backend and device"""
+
     try:
+        print("Initialising pyclesperanto...")
         backends = list_available_backends()
         if backends:
             _ = select_backend(backends[-1])
         else:
             raise RuntimeError("No backend available.")
+        print("done!")
     except Exception as e:
         warnings.warn(
             f"Error while initialising pyclesperanto: {e}\n\n"