diff --git a/sway/desktop/transaction.c b/sway/desktop/transaction.c
index a9c9cb58e..17e3f467b 100644
--- a/sway/desktop/transaction.c
+++ b/sway/desktop/transaction.c
@@ -319,9 +319,9 @@ static void transaction_commit(struct sway_transaction *transaction) {
 		if (transaction->timer) {
 			wl_event_source_timer_update(transaction->timer, txn_timeout_ms);
 		} else {
-			wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "Unable to create transaction timer. "
-					"There might not be any available file descriptors. "
-					"Some imperfect frames might be rendered.");
+			wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "Unable to create transaction timer (%s). "
+					"Some imperfect frames might be rendered.",
+					strerror(errno));
 			handle_timeout(transaction);
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/sway/input/seat.c b/sway/input/seat.c
index ab07c03c8..ce2e0936e 100644
--- a/sway/input/seat.c
+++ b/sway/input/seat.c
@@ -700,8 +700,8 @@ void seat_set_focus_warp(struct sway_seat *seat,
 				wl_event_source_timer_update(view->urgent_timer,
 						config->urgent_timeout);
 			} else {
-				wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "Unable to create urgency timer. "
-						"There might not be any available file descriptors.");
+				wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "Unable to create urgency timer (%s)",
+						strerror(errno));
 				handle_urgent_timeout(view);
 			}
 		} else {