diff --git a/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi.c b/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi.c
index 08aa7534df..6159eb6fec 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi.c
@@ -91,13 +91,13 @@ static int vhost_scsi_start(VHostSCSI *s)
 
     ret = vhost_scsi_common_start(vsc, &local_err);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        error_reportf_err(local_err, "Error starting vhost-scsi");
+        error_reportf_err(local_err, "Error starting vhost-scsi: ");
         return ret;
     }
 
     ret = vhost_scsi_set_endpoint(s);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        error_reportf_err(local_err, "Error setting vhost-scsi endpoint");
+        error_report("Error setting vhost-scsi endpoint");
         vhost_scsi_common_stop(vsc);
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/scsi/vhost-user-scsi.c b/hw/scsi/vhost-user-scsi.c
index 780f10559d..af18c4f3d3 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/vhost-user-scsi.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/vhost-user-scsi.c
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ static void vhost_user_scsi_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
     if (should_start) {
         ret = vhost_user_scsi_start(s, &local_err);
         if (ret < 0) {
-            error_reportf_err(local_err, "unable to start vhost-user-scsi: %s",
+            error_reportf_err(local_err,
+                              "unable to start vhost-user-scsi: %s: ",
                               strerror(-ret));
             qemu_chr_fe_disconnect(&vs->conf.chardev);
         }