diff --git a/dotdrop/config.py b/dotdrop/config.py
index 52afb4d..b7ee575 100644
--- a/dotdrop/config.py
+++ b/dotdrop/config.py
@@ -421,12 +421,13 @@ class Cfg:
         return ret
 
     def _norm_key_elem(self, elem):
-        """normalize key element for sanity"""
+        """normalize path element for sanity"""
         elem = elem.lstrip('.')
         elem = elem.replace(' ', '-')
         return elem.lower()
 
     def _get_paths(self, path):
+        """return a list of path elements, excluded home path"""
         p = strip_home(path)
         dirs = []
         while True:
@@ -466,7 +467,14 @@ class Cfg:
             key = '_'.join(entries)
             key = '{}_{}'.format(pre, key)
             if key not in keys:
-                break
+                return key
+        okey = key
+        cnt = 1
+        while key in keys:
+            # if unable to get a unique path
+            # get a random one
+            key = '{}_{}'.format(okey, cnt)
+            cnt += 1
         return key
 
     def short_to_long(self):
@@ -506,12 +514,13 @@ class Cfg:
         dsts = [(k, d.dst) for k, d in self.dotfiles.items()]
         if dotfile.dst in [x[1] for x in dsts]:
             return True, [x[0] for x in dsts if x[1] == dotfile.dst][0]
+        # return key for this new dotfile
         path = os.path.expanduser(dotfile.dst)
         if self.lnk_settings[self.key_long]:
             return False, self._get_long_key(path)
         return False, self._get_short_key(path, self.dotfiles.keys())
 
-    def new(self, dotfile, profile, link=False):
+    def new(self, dotfile, profile, link=False, debug=False):
         """import new dotfile
         dotfile key will change and can be empty"""
         # keep it short
@@ -520,6 +529,8 @@ class Cfg:
 
         # adding new profile if doesn't exist
         if profile not in self.lnk_profiles:
+            if debug:
+                self.log.dbg('adding profile to config')
             # in the yaml
             self.lnk_profiles[profile] = {self.key_profiles_dots: []}
             # in the global list of dotfiles per profile
@@ -527,6 +538,8 @@ class Cfg:
 
         exists, key = self._dotfile_exists(dotfile)
         if exists:
+            if debug:
+                self.log.dbg('key already exists: {}'.format(key))
             # when dotfile already there somewhere
             dotfile = self.dotfiles[key]
             if dotfile in self.prodots[profile]:
@@ -543,8 +556,12 @@ class Cfg:
                 pro[self.key_profiles_dots].append(dotfile.key)
             return True, dotfile
 
+        if debug:
+            self.log.dbg('dotfile attributed key: {}'.format(key))
         # adding the new dotfile
         dotfile.key = key
+        if debug:
+            self.log.dbg('adding new dotfile: {}'.format(dotfile))
         # add the entry in the yaml file
         dots = self.content[self.key_dotfiles]
         dots[dotfile.key] = {
diff --git a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
index 96122ff..055dd4f 100644
--- a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
+++ b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
@@ -235,6 +235,8 @@ def cmd_importer(opts, conf, paths):
     ret = True
     cnt = 0
     for path in paths:
+        if opts['debug']:
+            LOG.dbg('trying to import {}'.format(path))
         if not os.path.lexists(path):
             LOG.err('\"{}\" does not exist, ignored!'.format(path))
             ret = False
@@ -250,6 +252,8 @@ def cmd_importer(opts, conf, paths):
         # create a new dotfile
         dotfile = Dotfile('', dst, src)
         linkit = opts['link'] or opts['link_by_default']
+        if opts['debug']:
+            LOG.dbg('new dotfile: {}'.format(dotfile))
 
         # prepare hierarchy for dotfile
         srcf = os.path.join(opts['dotpath'], src)
@@ -277,7 +281,8 @@ def cmd_importer(opts, conf, paths):
                 if linkit:
                     remove(dst)
                     os.symlink(srcf, dst)
-        retconf, dotfile = conf.new(dotfile, opts['profile'], linkit)
+        retconf, dotfile = conf.new(dotfile, opts['profile'],
+                                    linkit, debug=opts['debug'])
         if retconf:
             LOG.sub('\"{}\" imported'.format(path))
             cnt += 1