diff --git a/qga/channel-win32.c b/qga/channel-win32.c
index b3597a8a0f..c86f4388db 100644
--- a/qga/channel-win32.c
+++ b/qga/channel-win32.c
@@ -302,7 +302,8 @@ static gboolean ga_channel_open(GAChannel *c, GAChannelMethod method,
                            OPEN_EXISTING,
                            FILE_FLAG_NO_BUFFERING | FILE_FLAG_OVERLAPPED, NULL);
     if (c->handle == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
-        g_critical("error opening path %s", newpath);
+        g_critical("error opening path %s: %s", newpath,
+                   g_win32_error_message(GetLastError()));
         return false;
     }