diff --git a/buffer.fnl b/buffer.fnl
index fb4440f..ea5e8ec 100644
--- a/buffer.fnl
+++ b/buffer.fnl
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 (local { : Gtk : Gdk : WebKit2 : cairo } (require :lgi))
 (local { : view } (require :fennel))
+(import-macros {: trace} :macros)
 
 (fn new-buffer [name]
   (var property-change-listener nil)
diff --git a/keymap.fnl b/keymap.fnl
index 08f56c7..dd0f8e7 100644
--- a/keymap.fnl
+++ b/keymap.fnl
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 (local { : Gdk } (require :lgi))
 (local { : view } (require :fennel))
 (local lume (require :lume))
+(import-macros {: trace} :macros)
 
 (local modifier-keyvals
        ;; we need to detect and discard modifier-only key events when
diff --git a/macros.fnl b/macros.fnl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2d8c349
--- /dev/null
+++ b/macros.fnl
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+
+(fn trace [x]
+  `(do
+     (print :trace ,(view x) (view ,x))
+     ,x))
+
+{ : trace }