diff --git a/cmd/checkout/cart-client.go b/cmd/checkout/cart-client.go
index eb999aa..d263b64 100644
--- a/cmd/checkout/cart-client.go
+++ b/cmd/checkout/cart-client.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"log"
 	"net/http"
 	"time"
 
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ func (s *CartClient) getCartGrain(ctx context.Context, cartId cart.CartId) (*car
 	}
 	defer resp.Body.Close()
 	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		log.Printf("request to %s failed with status %s", url, resp.Status)
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get cart: %s", resp.Status)
 	}
 	var grain cart.CartGrain
diff --git a/cmd/checkout/cart-client_test.go b/cmd/checkout/cart-client_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa7d95e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/checkout/cart-client_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"git.k6n.net/go-cart-actor/pkg/cart"
+)
+
+// TestGetCartGrain_RealService tests against the actual service at https://cart.k6n.net/
+// This test is skipped by default and can be run with: go test -run TestGetCartGrain_RealService
+func TestGetCartGrain_RealService(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Skip("Skipping integration test against real service")
+
+	client := NewCartClient("https://cart.k6n.net")
+
+	// You would need a real cart ID that exists in the system
+	// For example: cartId := cart.NewCartId(123, 456)
+	cartId := cart.MustParseCartId("JkfG6bRNLMy")
+
+	grain, err := client.getCartGrain(context.Background(), cartId)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to get cart grain: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if grain == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Expected grain to be non-nil")
+	}
+
+	t.Logf("Successfully retrieved cart grain: %+v", grain)
+}
diff --git a/cmd/checkout/pool-server.go b/cmd/checkout/pool-server.go
index 8135f2a..a87f805 100644
--- a/cmd/checkout/pool-server.go
+++ b/cmd/checkout/pool-server.go
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ func (s *CheckoutPoolServer) StartCheckoutHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http
 	cartGrain, err := s.cartClient.getCartGrain(r.Context(), cartId)
 	if err != nil {
 		logger.Error("failed to fetch cart", "error", err, "cartId", cartId)
-		http.Error(w, "failed to fetch cart", http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}