diff --git a/cmds/subvolume.c b/cmds/subvolume.c
index 8bb21f9f..9e5e1411 100644
--- a/cmds/subvolume.c
+++ b/cmds/subvolume.c
@@ -652,9 +652,11 @@ static int cmd_subvolume_snapshot(const struct cmd_struct *cmd, int argc, char *
 	strncpy_null(args.name, newname);
 
 	res = ioctl(fddst, BTRFS_IOC_SNAP_CREATE_V2, &args);
-
 	if (res < 0) {
-		error("cannot snapshot '%s': %m", subvol);
+		if (errno == ETXTBSY)
+			error("cannot snapshot '%s': source subvolume contains an active swapfile (%m)", subvol);
+		else
+			error("cannot snapshot '%s': %m", subvol);
 		goto out;
 	}