diff --git a/docs/core.rst b/docs/core.rst
index 5590b078..101308f8 100644
--- a/docs/core.rst
+++ b/docs/core.rst
@@ -116,13 +116,12 @@ SamplePath
 
 The ``SamplePath`` setting sets the value for the ``{SamplePath}`` placeholder.
 In contrast to the ntuple case, this value cannot be a list of strings.
-It also cannot be overridden on a per-systematic basis, just like ``RegionPath``.
 
 VariationPath
 """""""""""""
 
 Each systematic template can set the value for the ``{VariationPath}`` placeholder via the ``VariationPath`` setting.
-``RegionPath`` and ``SamplePath`` settings cannot be overridden.
+The ``RegionPath`` setting cannot be overridden.
 
 An example
 """"""""""
diff --git a/src/cabinetry/contrib/histogram_creator.py b/src/cabinetry/contrib/histogram_creator.py
index 60151072..ebe5e350 100644
--- a/src/cabinetry/contrib/histogram_creator.py
+++ b/src/cabinetry/contrib/histogram_creator.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """Creates histograms from ntuples with uproot."""
 
+import logging
 import pathlib
 from typing import List, Optional
 
@@ -8,6 +9,9 @@
 import uproot
 
 
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
 def with_uproot(
     ntuple_paths: List[pathlib.Path],
     pos_in_file: str,
@@ -51,6 +55,8 @@ def with_uproot(
         weight_is_expression = False
         weight = "1.0"
 
+    log.debug(f"reading input ntuples {paths_with_trees}")
+
     if weight_is_expression:
         # need to read observables and weights
         array_generator = uproot.iterate(
diff --git a/src/cabinetry/contrib/histogram_reader.py b/src/cabinetry/contrib/histogram_reader.py
index aaf4fab0..e7487069 100644
--- a/src/cabinetry/contrib/histogram_reader.py
+++ b/src/cabinetry/contrib/histogram_reader.py
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 """Reads histograms with uproot."""
 
+import logging
+
 import boost_histogram as bh
 import uproot
 
 
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
 def with_uproot(histo_path: str) -> bh.Histogram:
     """Reads a histogram with uproot and returns it.
 
@@ -14,5 +19,6 @@ def with_uproot(histo_path: str) -> bh.Histogram:
     Returns:
         bh.Histogram: histogram containing data
     """
+    log.debug(f"reading input histogram {histo_path}")
     hist = uproot.open(histo_path).to_boost()
     return hist
diff --git a/src/cabinetry/templates/builder.py b/src/cabinetry/templates/builder.py
index 13040cf1..5c7ea89b 100644
--- a/src/cabinetry/templates/builder.py
+++ b/src/cabinetry/templates/builder.py
@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@ def _ntuple_paths(
     A path is built starting from the path specified in the general options in the
     configuration file. This path can contain placeholders for region- and sample-
     specific overrides, via ``{Region}`` and ``{Sample}``. For non-nominal templates, it
-    is possible to override the sample path if the ``SamplePath`` option is specified
-    for the template. If ``SamplePath`` is a list, return a list of paths (one per
-    entry in the list).
+    is possible to override the path if the ``RegionPath`` or ``SamplePath`` options are
+    specified for the template. If ``SamplePath`` is a list, return a list of paths
+    (one per entry in the list).
 
     Args:
         general_path (str): path specified in general settings, with sections that can
diff --git a/src/cabinetry/templates/collector.py b/src/cabinetry/templates/collector.py
index c20df2cc..f8135bc3 100644
--- a/src/cabinetry/templates/collector.py
+++ b/src/cabinetry/templates/collector.py
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@ def _histo_path(
     location of the histogram within the file. Due to the presence of this colon, the
     return value is a string instead of a pathlib path. A path is built starting from
     the path specified in the general options in the configuration file. This path
-    contains placeholders for region-, sample-, and systematic-specific values.
+    contains placeholders for region-, sample-, and systematic-specific values. For
+    non-nominal templates there are overrides for ``SamplePath`` and ``VariationPath``
+    which can be used.
 
     Args:
         general_path (str): path specified in general settings, with sections that can
@@ -53,7 +55,12 @@ def _histo_path(
 
     # check whether a systematic is being processed
     if template is not None:
-        # determine whether the template has an override for VariationPath specified
+        # determine whether the template has an override for SamplePath specified
+        sample_override = utils._check_for_override(systematic, template, "SamplePath")
+        if sample_override is not None:
+            sample_path = sample_override
+
+        # check for VariationPath override
         variation_override = utils._check_for_override(
             systematic, template, "VariationPath"
         )
@@ -61,16 +68,12 @@ def _histo_path(
             # _check_for_override should return Optional[str] for VariationPath, but
             # mypy cannot know that it will not be a list, so explicitly cast to str
             variation_path = cast(str, variation_override)
-        else:
-            log.warning(
-                f"no VariationPath override specified for {region['Name']} / "
-                f"{sample['Name']} / {systematic['Name']} {template}"
-            )
-    # apply variation-specific setting
-    path = general_path.replace("{VariationPath}", variation_path)
+
+    # create a new string for path handling, with placeholders replaced subsequently
+    path = general_path
 
     # handle region-specific setting
-    region_template_exists = "{RegionPath}" in general_path
+    region_template_exists = "{RegionPath}" in path
     if region_path is not None:
         if not region_template_exists:
             log.warning(
@@ -81,7 +84,7 @@ def _histo_path(
         raise ValueError(f"no path setting found for region {region['Name']}")
 
     # handle sample-specific setting
-    sample_template_exists = "{SamplePath}" in general_path
+    sample_template_exists = "{SamplePath}" in path
     if sample_path is not None:
         if not sample_template_exists:
             log.warning(
@@ -91,6 +94,15 @@ def _histo_path(
     elif sample_template_exists:
         raise ValueError(f"no path setting found for sample {sample['Name']}")
 
+    # handle variation-specific setting (variation_path is always specified via function
+    # argument and possibly also via override)
+    if "{VariationPath}" not in path:
+        log.warning(
+            "variation override specified, but {VariationPath} not found in default "
+            "path"
+        )
+    path = path.replace("{VariationPath}", variation_path)
+
     # check for presence of colon to distinguish path to file and location within file
     if ":" not in path:
         log.warning(f"no colon found in path {path}, may not be able to find histogram")
diff --git a/tests/templates/test_templates_collector.py b/tests/templates/test_templates_collector.py
index 432efcab..bcf305f0 100644
--- a/tests/templates/test_templates_collector.py
+++ b/tests/templates/test_templates_collector.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ def test__histo_path(caplog):
     # only general path, no override
     assert collector._histo_path("path.root:h1", "", {}, {}, {}, None) == "path.root:h1"
 
-    # general path with region, sample and nominal variation
+    # general path with region, sample and nominal variation, template with no impact
     assert (
         collector._histo_path(
             "{RegionPath}.root:{SamplePath}_{VariationPath}",
@@ -21,41 +21,23 @@ def test__histo_path(caplog):
             {"RegionPath": "region"},
             {"SamplePath": "sample"},
             {},
-            None,
+            "Up",
         )
         == "region.root:sample_nominal"
     )
 
-    # systematic with override for VariationPath
+    # systematic with override for SamplePath and VariationPath
     assert (
         collector._histo_path(
             "{RegionPath}.root:{SamplePath}_{VariationPath}",
             "nominal",
             {"RegionPath": "reg_1"},
             {"SamplePath": "path"},
-            {"Name": "variation", "Up": {"VariationPath": "up"}},
-            "Up",
-        )
-        == "reg_1.root:path_up"
-    )
-
-    caplog.clear()
-
-    # systematic without override, results in warning from VariationPath
-    assert (
-        collector._histo_path(
-            "f.root:h1_{VariationPath}",
-            "",
-            {"Name": "reg"},
-            {"Name": "sam"},
-            {"Name": "variation"},
+            {"Name": "variation", "Up": {"SamplePath": "var", "VariationPath": "up"}},
             "Up",
         )
-        == "f.root:h1_"
+        == "reg_1.root:var_up"
     )
-    assert "no VariationPath override specified for reg / sam / variation Up" in [
-        rec.message for rec in caplog.records
-    ]
     caplog.clear()
 
     # warning: no region path in template
@@ -82,6 +64,19 @@ def test__histo_path(caplog):
     ]
     caplog.clear()
 
+    # warning: no variation path in template
+    assert (
+        collector._histo_path(
+            "f.root:h1", "", {}, {"VariationPath": "sample.root"}, {}, None
+        )
+        == "f.root:h1"
+    )
+    assert (
+        "variation override specified, but {VariationPath} not found in default path"
+        in [rec.message for rec in caplog.records]
+    )
+    caplog.clear()
+
     # warning: no colon in path
     assert collector._histo_path("f.root", "", {}, {}, {}, None) == "f.root"
     assert "no colon found in path f.root, may not be able to find histogram" in [