diff --git a/checkpolicy/parse_util.c b/checkpolicy/parse_util.c
index 1795e93c..8c1f393c 100644
--- a/checkpolicy/parse_util.c
+++ b/checkpolicy/parse_util.c
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ int read_source_policy(policydb_t * p, const char *file, const char *progname)
 {
 	yyin = fopen(file, "r");
 	if (!yyin) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "%s:  unable to open %s\n", progname, file);
+		fprintf(stderr, "%s:  unable to open %s:  %s\n", progname, file, strerror(errno));
 		return -1;
 	}
 	set_source_file(file);