diff --git a/zsnes/src/linux/sw_draw.c b/zsnes/src/linux/sw_draw.c
index 53df1395..e3d95dbc 100644
--- a/zsnes/src/linux/sw_draw.c
+++ b/zsnes/src/linux/sw_draw.c
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ BOOL sw_start(int width, int height, int req_depth, int FullScreen)
     SurfaceX = width; SurfaceY = height;
     surface = SDL_SetVideoMode(SurfaceX, SurfaceY, req_depth, flags);
     if (surface == NULL) {
-	fprintf (stderr, "Could not set %dx%d video mode.\n", SurfaceX, SurfaceY);
+	fprintf (stderr, "Could not set %dx%d video mode: %s\n", SurfaceX, SurfaceY, SDL_GetError ());
 	return FALSE;
       
     }