diff --git a/host/src/simtrace2-cardem-pcsc.c b/host/src/simtrace2-cardem-pcsc.c
index 2806b0f7..3ec75098 100644
--- a/host/src/simtrace2-cardem-pcsc.c
+++ b/host/src/simtrace2-cardem-pcsc.c
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		transp->usb_async = true;
 		transp->usb_devh = osmo_libusb_open_claim_interface(NULL, NULL, ifm);
 		if (!transp->usb_devh) {
-			fprintf(stderr, "can't open USB device\n");
+			fprintf(stderr, "can't open USB device: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 			goto close;
 		}
 
diff --git a/host/src/simtrace2-sniff.c b/host/src/simtrace2-sniff.c
index a4eccb21..c2230081 100644
--- a/host/src/simtrace2-sniff.c
+++ b/host/src/simtrace2-sniff.c
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	do {
 		_transp.usb_devh = osmo_libusb_open_claim_interface(NULL, NULL, &ifm_selected);
 		if (!_transp.usb_devh) {
-			fprintf(stderr, "can't open USB device\n");
+			fprintf(stderr, "can't open USB device: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 			goto close_exit;
 		}
 
diff --git a/host/src/simtrace2-tool.c b/host/src/simtrace2-tool.c
index eb61ee22..d7057967 100644
--- a/host/src/simtrace2-tool.c
+++ b/host/src/simtrace2-tool.c
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 				osmo_strlcpy(ifm->path, path, sizeof(ifm->path));
 			transp->usb_devh = osmo_libusb_open_claim_interface(NULL, NULL, ifm);
 			if (!transp->usb_devh) {
-				fprintf(stderr, "can't open USB device\n");
+				fprintf(stderr, "can't open USB device: %s\n", strerror(errno));
 				goto close_exit;
 			}