diff --git a/src/axolotl/cli/__init__.py b/src/axolotl/cli/__init__.py
index 0670f64e3a..9f40bb476d 100644
--- a/src/axolotl/cli/__init__.py
+++ b/src/axolotl/cli/__init__.py
@@ -433,6 +433,23 @@ def load_rl_datasets(
         math.ceil(len(train_dataset) * cfg.num_epochs / cfg.batch_size)
     )
 
+    if cli_args.debug or cfg.debug:
+        LOG.info("check_dataset_labels...")
+
+        tokenizer = load_tokenizer(cfg)
+        check_dataset_labels(
+            train_dataset.select(
+                [
+                    random.randrange(0, len(train_dataset) - 1)  # nosec
+                    for _ in range(cli_args.debug_num_examples)
+                ]
+            ),
+            tokenizer,
+            num_examples=cli_args.debug_num_examples,
+            text_only=cli_args.debug_text_only,
+            rl_mode=True,
+        )
+
     return TrainDatasetMeta(
         train_dataset=train_dataset,
         eval_dataset=eval_dataset,
diff --git a/src/axolotl/utils/tokenization.py b/src/axolotl/utils/tokenization.py
index afbdef8778..845296b7a6 100644
--- a/src/axolotl/utils/tokenization.py
+++ b/src/axolotl/utils/tokenization.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 """Module for tokenization utilities"""
 
-
 import logging
 import re
 from typing import Dict, List
@@ -10,10 +9,19 @@
 LOG = logging.getLogger("axolotl")
 
 
-def check_dataset_labels(dataset, tokenizer, num_examples=5, text_only=False):
+def check_dataset_labels(
+    dataset,
+    tokenizer,
+    num_examples=5,
+    text_only=False,
+    rl_mode=False,
+):
     # the dataset is already shuffled, so let's just check the first 5 elements
     for idx in range(num_examples):
-        check_example_labels(dataset[idx], tokenizer, text_only=text_only)
+        if not rl_mode:
+            check_example_labels(dataset[idx], tokenizer, text_only=text_only)
+        else:
+            check_rl_example_labels(dataset[idx], tokenizer, text_only=text_only)
 
 
 def check_example_labels(example, tokenizer, text_only=False):
@@ -40,6 +48,53 @@ def check_example_labels(example, tokenizer, text_only=False):
     return " ".join(colored_tokens)
 
 
+def color_token_for_rl_debug(decoded_token, encoded_token, color, text_only):
+    """Helper function to color tokens based on their type."""
+    colored_text = colored(decoded_token, color)
+    return (
+        colored_text
+        if text_only
+        else f"{colored_text}{colored(f'({encoded_token})', 'white')}"
+    )
+
+
+def process_tokens_for_rl_debug(tokens, color, tokenizer, text_only):
+    """Helper function to process and color tokens."""
+    colored_tokens = [
+        color_token_for_rl_debug(tokenizer.decode(token), token, color, text_only)
+        for token in tokenizer.encode(tokens)
+    ]
+    return colored_tokens
+
+
+def check_rl_example_labels(example, tokenizer, text_only=False):
+    field_prompt, field_chosen, field_rejected = "prompt", "chosen", "rejected"
+
+    input_tokens = example[field_prompt]
+    labels_chosen, labels_rejected = example[field_chosen], example[field_rejected]
+
+    # Process and color each type of token
+    colored_tokens = process_tokens_for_rl_debug(
+        input_tokens, "yellow", tokenizer, text_only
+    )
+    colored_chosens = process_tokens_for_rl_debug(
+        labels_chosen, "green", tokenizer, text_only
+    )
+    colored_rejecteds = process_tokens_for_rl_debug(
+        labels_rejected, "red", tokenizer, text_only
+    )
+
+    # Create a delimiter based on text_only flag
+    delimiter = "" if text_only else " "
+
+    # Logging information
+    LOG.info(f"INPUT PROMPT: {delimiter.join(colored_tokens)}\n\n")
+    LOG.info(f"CHOSEN RESPONSE: {delimiter.join(colored_chosens)}\n\n")
+    LOG.info(f"REJECTED RESPONSE: {delimiter.join(colored_rejecteds)}\n\n\n")
+
+    return delimiter.join(colored_tokens)
+
+
 GLAIVE_ROLES = ["USER", "ASSISTANT", "FUNCTION RESPONSE"]
 GLAIVE_TO_SHAREGPT_ROLE = {
     "SYSTEM": "system",