diff --git a/game.go b/game.go
index cf2ac03..afc7f6d 100644
--- a/game.go
+++ b/game.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ func NewGame() *Game {
 		connections: make(map[*Connection]bool, 32),
 	}
 	if err := game.Create(); err != nil {
-		log_error("%v", err)
+		log_error("unable to create game: %v", err)
 	}
 	return game
 }
diff --git a/speck.go b/speck.go
index 1517423..a10dce0 100644
--- a/speck.go
+++ b/speck.go
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ func parseSpeckLine(line []byte) *System {
 	s.name = strings.TrimSpace(strings.Join(parts[7:], " "))
 
 	if g != nil {
-		log_error("%v", g)
+		log_error("unable to parse speck line: %v", g)
 	}
 	return s
 }
diff --git a/system.go b/system.go
index 8cb5a67..1f1c7b1 100644
--- a/system.go
+++ b/system.go
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func (e System) Store(db *sql.DB) {
     (?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
     ;`, e.name, e.x, e.y, e.z, e.planets)
 	if err != nil {
-		log_error("%v", err)
+		log_error("unable to store system: %v", err)
 	}
 }