diff --git a/src/uu/cp/src/cp.rs b/src/uu/cp/src/cp.rs
index de01a5ef38..359f235720 100644
--- a/src/uu/cp/src/cp.rs
+++ b/src/uu/cp/src/cp.rs
@@ -1815,7 +1815,13 @@ fn copy_file(
                             symlinked_files,
                         )?;
                     }
-                    update_control::UpdateMode::ReplaceNone => return Ok(()),
+                    update_control::UpdateMode::ReplaceNone => {
+                        if options.debug {
+                            println!("skipped {}", dest.quote());
+                        }
+
+                        return Ok(());
+                    }
                     update_control::UpdateMode::ReplaceIfOlder => {
                         let dest_metadata = fs::symlink_metadata(dest)?;
 
diff --git a/tests/by-util/test_cp.rs b/tests/by-util/test_cp.rs
index 37bec52223..8a20443a4f 100644
--- a/tests/by-util/test_cp.rs
+++ b/tests/by-util/test_cp.rs
@@ -3367,6 +3367,21 @@ fn test_cp_debug_sparse_reflink() {
     }
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn test_cp_debug_no_update() {
+    let ts = TestScenario::new(util_name!());
+    let at = &ts.fixtures;
+    at.touch("a");
+    at.touch("b");
+    ts.ucmd()
+        .arg("--debug")
+        .arg("--update=none")
+        .arg("a")
+        .arg("b")
+        .succeeds()
+        .stdout_contains("skipped 'b'");
+}
+
 #[test]
 #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
 fn test_cp_debug_sparse_always() {