diff --git a/builtin/audit/file/backend.go b/builtin/audit/file/backend.go
index 704569635..08e8c84d8 100644
--- a/builtin/audit/file/backend.go
+++ b/builtin/audit/file/backend.go
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ func Factory(conf *audit.BackendConfig) (audit.Backend, error) {
 	// otherwise it will be too late to catch later without problems
 	// (ref: https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/issues/550)
 	if err := b.open(); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("sanity check failed; unable to open %s for writing", path)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("sanity check failed; unable to open %s for writing: %v", path, err)
 	}
 
 	return b, nil