diff --git a/migration/migration.c b/migration/migration.c
index 982ab85f04..dbc6c3947c 100644
--- a/migration/migration.c
+++ b/migration/migration.c
@@ -2408,6 +2408,8 @@ static int postcopy_start(MigrationState *ms, Error **errp)
         migration_wait_main_channel(ms);
         if (postcopy_preempt_establish_channel(ms)) {
             migrate_set_state(&ms->state, ms->state, MIGRATION_STATUS_FAILED);
+            error_setg(errp, "%s: Failed to establish preempt channel",
+                       __func__);
             return -1;
         }
     }
@@ -2427,17 +2429,22 @@ static int postcopy_start(MigrationState *ms, Error **errp)
     global_state_store();
     ret = migration_stop_vm(RUN_STATE_FINISH_MIGRATE);
     if (ret < 0) {
+        error_setg_errno(errp, -ret, "%s: Failed to stop the VM", __func__);
         goto fail;
     }
 
     ret = migration_maybe_pause(ms, &cur_state,
                                 MIGRATION_STATUS_POSTCOPY_ACTIVE);
     if (ret < 0) {
+        error_setg_errno(errp, -ret, "%s: Failed in migration_maybe_pause()",
+                         __func__);
         goto fail;
     }
 
     ret = bdrv_inactivate_all();
     if (ret < 0) {
+        error_setg_errno(errp, -ret, "%s: Failed in bdrv_inactivate_all()",
+                         __func__);
         goto fail;
     }
     restart_block = true;
@@ -2514,6 +2521,7 @@ static int postcopy_start(MigrationState *ms, Error **errp)
 
     /* Now send that blob */
     if (qemu_savevm_send_packaged(ms->to_dst_file, bioc->data, bioc->usage)) {
+        error_setg(errp, "%s: Failed to send packaged data", __func__);
         goto fail_closefb;
     }
     qemu_fclose(fb);