diff --git a/hw/xbox/mcpx/apu.c b/hw/xbox/mcpx/apu.c
index cf34f14197..5918808804 100644
--- a/hw/xbox/mcpx/apu.c
+++ b/hw/xbox/mcpx/apu.c
@@ -2638,7 +2638,8 @@ void mcpx_apu_init(PCIBus *bus, int devfn, MemoryRegion *ram)
     SDL_AudioDeviceID sdl_audio_dev;
     sdl_audio_dev = SDL_OpenAudioDevice(NULL, 0, &sdl_audio_spec, NULL, 0);
     if (sdl_audio_dev == 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "SDL_OpenAudioDevice failed\n");
+        fprintf(stderr, "SDL_OpenAudioDevice failed: %s\n", SDL_GetError());
+        assert(!"SDL_OpenAudioDevice failed");
         exit(1);
     }
     SDL_PauseAudioDevice(sdl_audio_dev, 0);