diff --git a/apps/parse/lib/parse/alerts.ex b/apps/parse/lib/parse/alerts.ex
index 736bafc0..7cc95059 100644
--- a/apps/parse/lib/parse/alerts.ex
+++ b/apps/parse/lib/parse/alerts.ex
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ defmodule Parse.Alerts do
   the basic field set.
   """
 
+  require Logger
   use Timex
 
   alias Model.Alert
@@ -75,6 +76,11 @@ defmodule Parse.Alerts do
     copy(cause)
   end
 
+  defp cause(alert) do
+    Logger.error("No cause found in alert: #{inspect(alert)}")
+    ""
+  end
+
   def lifecycle("ONGOING"), do: "ONGOING"
   def lifecycle("UPCOMING"), do: "UPCOMING"
   def lifecycle(<<"UPCOMING", _::binary-1, "ONGOING">>), do: "ONGOING_UPCOMING"