diff --git a/packages/core/src/dev/beta.ts b/packages/core/src/dev/beta.ts
index 7718d1f49fc..fbcf3bf4748 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/dev/beta.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/dev/beta.ts
@@ -21,8 +21,10 @@ import { CancellationError } from '../shared/utilities/timeoutUtils'
 import { isAmazonQ, isCloud9, productName } from '../shared/extensionUtilities'
 import * as config from './config'
 import { isReleaseVersion } from '../shared/vscode/env'
+import { getRelativeDate } from '../shared/datetime'
 
 const localize = nls.loadMessageBundle()
+const logger = getLogger('dev/beta')
 
 const downloadIntervalMs = 1000 * 60 * 60 * 24 // A day in milliseconds
 
@@ -57,12 +59,13 @@ export async function activate(ctx: vscode.ExtensionContext) {
  * If this is the first time we are watching the beta version or if its been 24 hours since it was last checked then try to prompt for update
  */
 export function watchBetaVSIX(vsixUrl: string): vscode.Disposable {
-    getLogger().info(`dev: watching ${vsixUrl} for beta artifacts`)
-
     const toolkit = getBetaToolkitData(vsixUrl)
+    const lastCheckRel = toolkit ? getRelativeDate(new Date(toolkit.lastCheck)) : ''
+    logger.info('watching beta artifacts url (lastCheck: %s): %s', lastCheckRel, vsixUrl)
+
     if (!toolkit || toolkit.needUpdate || Date.now() - toolkit.lastCheck > downloadIntervalMs) {
         runAutoUpdate(vsixUrl).catch((e) => {
-            getLogger().error('runAutoUpdate failed: %s', (e as Error).message)
+            logger.error('runAutoUpdate failed: %s', (e as Error).message)
         })
     }
 
@@ -71,13 +74,13 @@ export function watchBetaVSIX(vsixUrl: string): vscode.Disposable {
 }
 
 async function runAutoUpdate(vsixUrl: string) {
-    getLogger().debug(`dev: checking ${vsixUrl} for a new version`)
+    logger.debug(`checking url for a new version: %s`, vsixUrl)
 
     try {
         await telemetry.aws_autoUpdateBeta.run(() => checkBetaUrl(vsixUrl))
     } catch (e) {
         if (!isUserCancelledError(e)) {
-            getLogger().warn(`dev: beta extension auto-update failed: %s`, e)
+            logger.warn('beta extension auto-update failed: %s', e)
         }
     }
 }
@@ -165,7 +168,7 @@ async function promptInstallToolkit(pluginPath: vscode.Uri, newVersion: string,
     switch (response) {
         case installBtn:
             try {
-                getLogger().info(`dev: installing artifact ${vsixName}`)
+                logger.info(`installing artifact: ${vsixName}`)
                 await vscode.commands.executeCommand('workbench.extensions.installExtension', pluginPath)
                 await updateBetaToolkitData(vsixUrl, {
                     lastCheck: Date.now(),