diff --git a/qubes/vm/qubesvm.py b/qubes/vm/qubesvm.py
index a3e3e4a7..4ff54c72 100644
--- a/qubes/vm/qubesvm.py
+++ b/qubes/vm/qubesvm.py
@@ -1036,6 +1036,7 @@ class QubesVM(qubes.vm.mix.net.NetVMMixin, qubes.vm.BaseVM):
                     pre_event=True,
                     start_guid=start_guid, mem_required=mem_required)
             except Exception as exc:
+                self.log.error('Start failed: %s', str(exc))
                 yield from self.fire_event_async('domain-start-failed',
                     reason=str(exc))
                 raise
@@ -1067,6 +1068,7 @@ class QubesVM(qubes.vm.mix.net.NetVMMixin, qubes.vm.BaseVM):
                 yield from self.storage.start()
 
             except Exception as exc:
+                self.log.error('Start failed: %s', str(exc))
                 # let anyone receiving domain-pre-start know that startup failed
                 yield from self.fire_event_async('domain-start-failed',
                     reason=str(exc))