diff --git a/test/pwtest.c b/test/pwtest.c
index a000153fd..35e7b003c 100644
--- a/test/pwtest.c
+++ b/test/pwtest.c
@@ -936,8 +936,10 @@ static void run_test(struct pwtest_context *ctx, struct pwtest_suite *c, struct
 	spa_assert_se(tmpdir != NULL);
 	r = chdir(tmpdir);
 	if (r < 0) {
+		char *buf = pw_array_add(&t->logs[FD_LOG], 256);
+		spa_scnprintf(buf, 256, "pwtest: failed to chdir to '%s'\n", tmpdir);
 		t->sig_or_errno = -errno;
-		return;
+		goto error;
 	}
 
 	if (t->args.pw_daemon) {