diff --git a/src/weston-launch.c b/src/weston-launch.c
index 64d4a8aee..d034c580d 100644
--- a/src/weston-launch.c
+++ b/src/weston-launch.c
@@ -318,12 +318,17 @@ handle_open(struct weston_launch *wl, struct msghdr *msg, ssize_t len)
 		goto err0;
 
 	fd = open(message->path, message->flags);
-	if (fd < 0)
+	if (fd < 0) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "Error opening device %s: %m\n",
+			message->path);
 		goto err0;
+	}
 
 	if (major(s.st_rdev) != INPUT_MAJOR) {
 		close(fd);
 		fd = -1;
+		fprintf(stderr, "Device %s is not an input device\n",
+			message->path);
 		goto err0;
 	}