diff --git a/src/conio/console.c b/src/conio/console.c
index 70b66b11758c6cbb95c58b044f6d05d141a592dc..a30247b41651aa1a492935b92a044d6fcfb95eb5 100644
--- a/src/conio/console.c
+++ b/src/conio/console.c
@@ -1103,6 +1103,7 @@ init_mode(int mode)
     
     idx = find_vmode(mode & 0x7f);
     if (idx == -1 || vmodelist[idx].type == NOMODE) {
+		fprintf(stderr,"Cannot initialize selected mode\n");
 		return(-1);
 	}
     vmode = vmodelist[idx];
@@ -1131,8 +1132,10 @@ init_mode(int mode)
 
     /* Update font. */
     xfont = vmode.fontname;
-    if(load_font())
+    if(load_font()) {
+		fprintf(stderr,"Cannot load ``%s'' font\n",xfont);
 		return(-1);
+	}
 
     /* Resize window if necessary. */
     resize_window();
@@ -1174,6 +1177,7 @@ init_window()
 
 	dpy = XOpenDisplay(NULL);
     if (dpy == NULL) {
+		fprintf(stderr,"Cannot open connection to X server\n");
 		return(-1);
 	}
     xfd = ConnectionNumber(dpy);
@@ -1257,12 +1261,18 @@ console_init()
 	if(dpy!=NULL)
 		return(0);
 
-    if(kbd_init())
+    if(kbd_init()) {
+		fprintf(stderr,"Cannot initialize X keyboard\n");
 		return(-1);
-    if(video_init())
+	}
+    if(video_init()) {
+		fprintf(stderr,"X video init failure\n");
 		return(-1);
-    if(mouse_init())
+	}
+    if(mouse_init()) {
+		fprintf(stderr,"Cannot initialize X mouse\n");
 		return(-1);
+	}
 
 	_beginthread(video_async_event,1<<16,NULL);
 	return(0);