diff --git a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/version/internal/DefaultPluginVersionResolver.java b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/version/internal/DefaultPluginVersionResolver.java
index 67adceb8075a..0f3761063eb9 100644
--- a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/version/internal/DefaultPluginVersionResolver.java
+++ b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/version/internal/DefaultPluginVersionResolver.java
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 import org.apache.maven.model.Build;
 import org.apache.maven.model.Plugin;
 import org.apache.maven.plugin.MavenPluginManager;
+import org.apache.maven.plugin.PluginIncompatibleException;
 import org.apache.maven.plugin.PluginResolutionException;
 import org.apache.maven.plugin.descriptor.PluginDescriptor;
 import org.apache.maven.plugin.version.PluginVersionRequest;
@@ -158,6 +159,8 @@ private void selectVersion(DefaultPluginVersionResult result, PluginVersionReque
             throws PluginVersionResolutionException {
         String version = null;
         ArtifactRepository repo = null;
+        boolean resolvedPluginVersions = !versions.versions.isEmpty();
+        boolean searchPerformed = false;
 
         if (StringUtils.isNotEmpty(versions.releaseVersion)) {
             version = versions.releaseVersion;
@@ -167,8 +170,11 @@ private void selectVersion(DefaultPluginVersionResult result, PluginVersionReque
             repo = versions.latestRepository;
         }
         if (version != null && !isCompatible(request, version)) {
+            logger.info("Latest version of plugin " + request.getGroupId() + ":" + request.getArtifactId()
+                    + " failed compatibility check");
             versions.versions.remove(version);
             version = null;
+            searchPerformed = true;
         }
 
         if (version == null) {
@@ -191,16 +197,26 @@ private void selectVersion(DefaultPluginVersionResult result, PluginVersionReque
                 }
             }
 
-            for (Version v : releases) {
-                String ver = v.toString();
-                if (isCompatible(request, ver)) {
-                    version = ver;
-                    repo = versions.versions.get(version);
-                    break;
+            if (!releases.isEmpty()) {
+                logger.info("Looking for compatible RELEASE version of plugin "
+                        + request.getGroupId()
+                        + ":"
+                        + request.getArtifactId());
+                for (Version v : releases) {
+                    String ver = v.toString();
+                    if (isCompatible(request, ver)) {
+                        version = ver;
+                        repo = versions.versions.get(version);
+                        break;
+                    }
                 }
             }
 
-            if (version == null) {
+            if (version == null && !snapshots.isEmpty()) {
+                logger.info("Looking for compatible SNAPSHOT version of plugin "
+                        + request.getGroupId()
+                        + ":"
+                        + request.getArtifactId());
                 for (Version v : snapshots) {
                     String ver = v.toString();
                     if (isCompatible(request, ver)) {
@@ -213,15 +229,27 @@ private void selectVersion(DefaultPluginVersionResult result, PluginVersionReque
         }
 
         if (version != null) {
+            // if LATEST worked out of the box, remain silent as today, otherwise inform user about search result
+            if (searchPerformed) {
+                logger.info("Selected plugin " + request.getGroupId() + ":" + request.getArtifactId() + ":" + version);
+            }
             result.setVersion(version);
             result.setRepository(repo);
         } else {
+            logger.warn((resolvedPluginVersions
+                            ? "Could not find compatible version of plugin in any plugin repository: "
+                            : "Plugin not found in any plugin repository: ")
+                    + request.getGroupId()
+                    + ":"
+                    + request.getArtifactId());
             throw new PluginVersionResolutionException(
                     request.getGroupId(),
                     request.getArtifactId(),
                     request.getRepositorySession().getLocalRepository(),
                     request.getRepositories(),
-                    "Plugin not found in any plugin repository");
+                    resolvedPluginVersions
+                            ? "Could not find compatible plugin version in any plugin repository"
+                            : "Plugin not found in any plugin repository");
         }
     }
 
@@ -246,8 +274,12 @@ private boolean isCompatible(PluginVersionRequest request, String version) {
 
         try {
             pluginManager.checkRequiredMavenVersion(pluginDescriptor);
-        } catch (Exception e) {
-            logger.debug("Ignoring incompatible plugin version " + version + ": " + e.getMessage());
+        } catch (PluginIncompatibleException e) {
+            if (logger.isDebugEnabled()) {
+                logger.warn("Ignoring incompatible plugin version " + version, e);
+            } else {
+                logger.warn("Ignoring incompatible plugin version " + version + ": " + e.getMessage());
+            }
             return false;
         }