diff --git a/src/hidpp10.c b/src/hidpp10.c
index 5780317c..666e0155 100644
--- a/src/hidpp10.c
+++ b/src/hidpp10.c
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ static int hidpp10_write_command(struct ratbag_device *device, __u8 *cmd, int si
 		return 0;
 
 	if (res < 0)
-		log_error(device->ratbag, "Error: %d\n", -res);
+		log_error(device->ratbag, "Error: %s (%d)\n", strerror(-res), -res);
 
 	return res;
 }
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ int hidpp10_request_command(struct ratbag_device *device, union hidpp10_message
 	} while (ret > 0);
 
 	if (ret < 0) {
-		log_error(ratbag, "    USB error: %d\n", -ret);
+		log_error(ratbag, "    USB error: %s (%d)\n", strerror(-ret), -ret);
 		perror("write");
 		goto out_err;
 	}
diff --git a/src/hidpp20.c b/src/hidpp20.c
index a5ec5894..a5cfe35d 100644
--- a/src/hidpp20.c
+++ b/src/hidpp20.c
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ hidpp20_write_command(struct ratbag_device *device, uint8_t *cmd, int size)
 		return 0;
 
 	if (res < 0)
-		log_error(device->ratbag, "Error: %d\n", -res);
+		log_error(device->ratbag, "Error: %s (%d)\n", strerror(-res), -res);
 
 	return res;
 }
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ hidpp20_request_command(struct ratbag_device *device, union hidpp20_message *msg
 	} while (ret > 0);
 
 	if (ret < 0) {
-		log_error(ratbag, "    USB error: %d\n", -ret);
+		log_error(ratbag, "    USB error: %s (%d)\n", strerror(-ret), -ret);
 		perror("write");
 		goto out_err;
 	}