diff --git a/matrix_keycloak_bot.py b/matrix_keycloak_bot.py
index a58a250..58b43b9 100644
--- a/matrix_keycloak_bot.py
+++ b/matrix_keycloak_bot.py
@@ -182,24 +182,28 @@ async def send_message_safe(
 
 async def on_reaction(client: AsyncClient, room: MatrixRoom, event: ReactionEvent):
     """Listens for reaction approvals/denials in the admin room."""
+    print(f"[REACTION] Received '{event.key}' from {event.sender} on event '{event.reacts_to}'")
+
     if room.room_id != ADMIN_ROOM_ID:
         return
 
     # Verify reactor is an authorized admin
     if event.sender not in ADMIN_MATRIX_IDS:
+        print(f"[REACTION IGNORED] Sender '{event.sender}' is not in ADMIN_MATRIX_IDS.")
         return
 
-    # matrix-nio exposes target event ID and emoji as direct properties
     target_event_id = event.reacts_to
     emoji = event.key
 
     # Check if this reaction targets an active pending request
     if not target_event_id or target_event_id not in pending_requests:
+        print(f"[REACTION IGNORED] Event ID '{target_event_id}' not found in pending_requests.")
         return
 
     request = pending_requests[target_event_id]
 
-    if emoji == "👍":
+    # Use substring check to catch Unicode variation selectors (e.g. 👍 vs 👍\ufe0f)
+    if "👍" in emoji:
         # Execute Keycloak Group Addition
         success, msg = add_user_to_kc_group(
             request["kc_username"], request["requested_group"]
@@ -222,7 +226,7 @@ async def on_reaction(client: AsyncClient, room: MatrixRoom, event: ReactionEven
             content={"msgtype": "m.notice", "body": user_msg},
         )
 
-    elif emoji == "👎":
+    elif "👎" in emoji:
         status_text = (
             f"❌ **DENIED** by `{event.sender}`\n"
             f"**User:** `{request['matrix_user']}` → **Group:** `{request['requested_group']}`"
@@ -237,6 +241,7 @@ async def on_reaction(client: AsyncClient, room: MatrixRoom, event: ReactionEven
             },
         )
     else:
+        print(f"[REACTION IGNORED] Emoji '{emoji}' is neither 👍 nor 👎.")
         return  # Ignore other reactions
 
     # Update the original admin room message to reflect resolution status