diff --git a/src/music/allegro_m.cpp b/src/music/allegro_m.cpp
index d48d653252..ba73e2f642 100644
--- a/src/music/allegro_m.cpp
+++ b/src/music/allegro_m.cpp
@@ -25,11 +25,17 @@ extern int _allegro_instance_count;
 
 const char *MusicDriver_Allegro::Start(const char * const *param)
 {
-	if (_allegro_instance_count == 0 && install_allegro(SYSTEM_AUTODETECT, &errno, NULL)) return "Failed to set up Allegro";
+	if (_allegro_instance_count == 0 && install_allegro(SYSTEM_AUTODETECT, &errno, NULL)) {
+		DEBUG(driver, 0, "allegro: install_allegro failed '%s'", allegro_error);
+		return "Failed to set up Allegro";
+	}
 	_allegro_instance_count++;
 
 	/* Initialise the sound */
-	if (install_sound(DIGI_AUTODETECT, MIDI_AUTODETECT, NULL) != 0) return "Failed to set up Allegro sound";
+	if (install_sound(DIGI_AUTODETECT, MIDI_AUTODETECT, NULL) != 0) {
+		DEBUG(driver, 0, "allegro: install_sound failed '%s'", allegro_error);
+		return "Failed to set up Allegro sound";
+	}
 
 	/* Okay, there's no soundcard */
 	if (midi_card == MIDI_NONE) {
diff --git a/src/sound/allegro_s.cpp b/src/sound/allegro_s.cpp
index cde0aad211..cef7164072 100644
--- a/src/sound/allegro_s.cpp
+++ b/src/sound/allegro_s.cpp
@@ -51,11 +51,17 @@ extern int _allegro_instance_count;
 
 const char *SoundDriver_Allegro::Start(const char * const *parm)
 {
-	if (_allegro_instance_count == 0 && install_allegro(SYSTEM_AUTODETECT, &errno, NULL)) return "Failed to set up Allegro";
+	if (_allegro_instance_count == 0 && install_allegro(SYSTEM_AUTODETECT, &errno, NULL)) {
+		DEBUG(driver, 0, "allegro: install_allegro failed '%s'", allegro_error);
+		return "Failed to set up Allegro";
+	}
 	_allegro_instance_count++;
 
 	/* Initialise the sound */
-	if (install_sound(DIGI_AUTODETECT, MIDI_AUTODETECT, NULL) != 0) return "Failed to set up Allegro sound";
+	if (install_sound(DIGI_AUTODETECT, MIDI_AUTODETECT, NULL) != 0) {
+		DEBUG(driver, 0, "allegro: install_sound failed '%s'", allegro_error);
+		return "Failed to set up Allegro sound";
+	}
 
 	/* Okay, there's no soundcard */
 	if (digi_card == DIGI_NONE) {
diff --git a/src/video/allegro_v.cpp b/src/video/allegro_v.cpp
index a92a115e2c..542422aef0 100644
--- a/src/video/allegro_v.cpp
+++ b/src/video/allegro_v.cpp
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ static bool CreateMainSurface(uint w, uint h)
 
 	GetAvailableVideoMode(&w, &h);
 	if (set_gfx_mode(_fullscreen ? GFX_AUTODETECT_FULLSCREEN : GFX_AUTODETECT_WINDOWED, w, h, 0, 0) != 0) {
-		DEBUG(driver, 0, "Allegro: Couldn't allocate a window to draw on");
+		DEBUG(driver, 0, "Allegro: Couldn't allocate a window to draw on '%s'", allegro_error);
 		return false;
 	}
 
@@ -415,7 +415,10 @@ int _allegro_instance_count = 0;
 
 const char *VideoDriver_Allegro::Start(const char * const *parm)
 {
-	if (_allegro_instance_count == 0 && install_allegro(SYSTEM_AUTODETECT, &errno, NULL)) return "Failed to set up Allegro";
+	if (_allegro_instance_count == 0 && install_allegro(SYSTEM_AUTODETECT, &errno, NULL)) {
+		DEBUG(driver, 0, "allegro: install_allegro failed '%s'", allegro_error);
+		return "Failed to set up Allegro";
+	}
 	_allegro_instance_count++;
 
 	install_timer();