diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 6f4bbb1..9dc4fc1 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "lrx-cli"
-version = "0.7.7"
+version = "0.7.8"
 description = "Fetch line-synced lyrics for your music player."
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.13"
diff --git a/src/lrx_cli/mpris.py b/src/lrx_cli/mpris.py
index 6227649..90bef95 100644
--- a/src/lrx_cli/mpris.py
+++ b/src/lrx_cli/mpris.py
@@ -103,11 +103,12 @@ async def _select_player(
         return matched[0] if matched else None
 
     # auto-selection: apply blacklist before choosing
-    candidates = [
-        p
-        for p in all_names
-        if not any(x.lower() in p.lower() for x in player_blacklist)
-    ]
+    candidates = []
+    for p in all_names:
+        if any(x.lower() in p.lower() for x in player_blacklist):
+            logger.info(f"Excluding blacklisted player: {p}")
+        else:
+            candidates.append(p)
     playing: list[str] = []
     for p in candidates:
         status = await _get_playback_status(bus, p)
diff --git a/src/lrx_cli/watch/player.py b/src/lrx_cli/watch/player.py
index 98d2033..15cb138 100644
--- a/src/lrx_cli/watch/player.py
+++ b/src/lrx_cli/watch/player.py
@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@ class PlayerMonitor:
                 if not hint_active and any(
                     x.lower() in name.lower() for x in self._player_blacklist
                 ):
+                    logger.info(f"Excluding blacklisted player: {name}")
                     continue
                 if not self._target.allows(name):
                     continue
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index dc7f7d9..9a53e49 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lrx-cli"
-version = "0.7.7"
+version = "0.7.8"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "cyclopts" },