diff --git a/exec.c b/exec.c
index 7dddcc8034..cb73d16542 100644
--- a/exec.c
+++ b/exec.c
@@ -1130,6 +1130,7 @@ static void *file_ram_alloc(RAMBlock *block,
 
 error:
     if (mem_prealloc) {
+        error_report("%s\n", error_get_pretty(*errp));
         exit(1);
     }
     return NULL;