diff --git a/prepare.cpp b/prepare.cpp
index ba838b7e6..c7652bb23 100644
--- a/prepare.cpp
+++ b/prepare.cpp
@@ -432,13 +432,15 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
             position += edge - last_edge;           // remove
         }
 
-        for (unsigned sentinel_counter = max_used_node_id; sentinel_counter != node_array.size();
+        for (unsigned sentinel_counter = max_used_node_id; sentinel_counter < node_array.size();
              ++sentinel_counter)
         {
             // sentinel element, guarded against underflow
             node_array[sentinel_counter].first_edge = contracted_edge_count;
         }
 
+        SimpleLogger().Write() << "Serializing node array";
+
         const unsigned node_array_size = node_array.size();
         // serialize crc32, aka checksum
         hsgr_output_stream.write((char *)&node_based_edge_list_CRC32, sizeof(unsigned));