diff --git a/src/aklite_client_ext.cc b/src/aklite_client_ext.cc
index b57237e2..ba4d11d2 100644
--- a/src/aklite_client_ext.cc
+++ b/src/aklite_client_ext.cc
@@ -120,15 +120,18 @@ GetTargetToInstallResult AkliteClientExt::GetTargetToInstall(const CheckInResult
                << " Skipping its installation.";
     }
 
-    if (force_apps_sync || !client_->appsInSync(Target::fromTufTarget(current))) {
+    auto apps_to_update = client_->appsToUpdate(Target::fromTufTarget(current));
+    if (force_apps_sync || !apps_to_update.empty()) {
       // Force installation of apps
       res.selected_target = current;
       LOG_INFO
           << "The specified Target is already installed, enforcing installation to make sure it's synced and running:"
           << res.selected_target.Name();
 
+      LOG_INFO << "XX " << apps_to_update.size()
+               << " Apps requiring update: " + boost::algorithm::join(apps_to_update, ", ");
       res.status = GetTargetToInstallResult::Status::UpdateSyncApps;
-      res.reason = "Syncing Active Target Apps";
+      res.reason = "Syncing Active Target Apps\nApps requiring update: " + boost::algorithm::join(apps_to_update, ", ");
     } else {
       // No targets to install
       res.selected_target = TufTarget();
diff --git a/src/composeappmanager.cc b/src/composeappmanager.cc
index 9e5238c7..8f6f72e7 100644
--- a/src/composeappmanager.cc
+++ b/src/composeappmanager.cc
@@ -237,13 +237,24 @@ ComposeAppManager::AppsContainer ComposeAppManager::getAppsToUpdate(const Uptane
   return apps_to_update;
 }
 
-bool ComposeAppManager::checkForAppsToUpdate(const Uptane::Target& target) {
+std::vector<std::string> ComposeAppManager::checkForAppsToUpdate(const Uptane::Target& target) {
   cur_apps_to_fetch_and_update_ = getAppsToUpdate(target);
   if (!!cfg_.reset_apps) {
     cur_apps_to_fetch_ = getAppsToFetch(target);
   }
   are_apps_checked_ = true;
-  return cur_apps_to_fetch_and_update_.empty() && cur_apps_to_fetch_.empty();
+  std::vector<std::string> ret;
+  for (const auto& app : cur_apps_to_fetch_and_update_) {
+    if (std::find(ret.begin(), ret.end(), app.first) == ret.end()) {
+      ret.push_back(app.first);
+    }
+  }
+  for (const auto& app : cur_apps_to_fetch_) {
+    if (std::find(ret.begin(), ret.end(), app.first) == ret.end()) {
+      ret.push_back(app.first);
+    }
+  }
+  return ret;
 }
 
 DownloadResult ComposeAppManager::Download(const TufTarget& target) {
diff --git a/src/composeappmanager.h b/src/composeappmanager.h
index e7e3eb3c..a99a6e16 100644
--- a/src/composeappmanager.h
+++ b/src/composeappmanager.h
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class ComposeAppManager : public RootfsTreeManager {
   // If Apps are not specified in the config then all Target's Apps are returned
   AppsContainer getApps(const Uptane::Target& t) const;
   AppsContainer getAppsToUpdate(const Uptane::Target& t) const;
-  bool checkForAppsToUpdate(const Uptane::Target& target);
+  std::vector<std::string> checkForAppsToUpdate(const Uptane::Target& target);
   void setAppsNotChecked() { are_apps_checked_ = false; }
   void handleRemovedApps(const Uptane::Target& target) const;
   Json::Value getAppsState() const;
diff --git a/src/liteclient.cc b/src/liteclient.cc
index d3a47791..ecdde939 100644
--- a/src/liteclient.cc
+++ b/src/liteclient.cc
@@ -771,22 +771,24 @@ bool LiteClient::isTargetActive(const Uptane::Target& target) const {
   return target.filename() == current.filename() && target.sha256Hash() == current.sha256Hash();
 }
 
-bool LiteClient::appsInSync(const Uptane::Target& target) const {
+bool LiteClient::appsInSync(const Uptane::Target& target) const { return appsToUpdate(target).empty(); }
+
+std::vector<std::string> LiteClient::appsToUpdate(const Uptane::Target& target) const {
   if (package_manager_->name() == ComposeAppManager::Name) {
     auto* compose_pacman = dynamic_cast<ComposeAppManager*>(package_manager_.get());
     if (compose_pacman == nullptr) {
       LOG_ERROR << "Cannot downcast the package manager to a specific type";
-      return false;
+      return {};
     }
     LOG_INFO << "Checking status of Active Target (" << target.filename() << ")";
-    auto no_any_app_to_update = compose_pacman->checkForAppsToUpdate(target);
-    if (no_any_app_to_update) {
+    auto apps_to_update = compose_pacman->checkForAppsToUpdate(target);
+    if (apps_to_update.empty()) {
       compose_pacman->handleRemovedApps(getCurrent());
     }
 
-    return no_any_app_to_update;
+    return apps_to_update;
   }
-  return true;
+  return {};
 }
 
 void LiteClient::setAppsNotChecked() {
diff --git a/src/liteclient.h b/src/liteclient.h
index 79bf5284..bd4dd7b9 100644
--- a/src/liteclient.h
+++ b/src/liteclient.h
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ class LiteClient {
   void reportAppsState();
   bool isTargetActive(const Uptane::Target& target) const;
   bool appsInSync(const Uptane::Target& target) const;
+  std::vector<std::string> appsToUpdate(const Uptane::Target& target) const;
   void setAppsNotChecked();
   std::string getDeviceID() const;
   static void update_request_headers(std::shared_ptr<HttpClient>& http_client, const Uptane::Target& target,