diff --git a/src/vmspawn/vmspawn.c b/src/vmspawn/vmspawn.c
index 27fa3501ee5..97920aecc0e 100644
--- a/src/vmspawn/vmspawn.c
+++ b/src/vmspawn/vmspawn.c
@@ -3103,7 +3103,7 @@ static int run_virtual_machine(int kvm_device_fd, int vhost_device_fd) {
                                                       &tree_local_lock,
                                                       &snapshot_directory);
                         if (r < 0)
-                                return r;
+                                return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to create ephemeral snapshot of '%s': %m", arg_directory);
 
                         arg_directory = strdup(snapshot_directory);
                         if (!arg_directory)