diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index e12f1d3ee0..fe23311d15 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -1445,7 +1445,8 @@ static int win32_start_timer(struct qemu_alarm_timer *t)
                         flags);
 
     if (!data->timerId) {
-        perror("Failed to initialize win32 alarm timer");
+        fprintf(stderr, "Failed to initialize win32 alarm timer: %d\n",
+                GetLastError());
         timeEndPeriod(data->period);
         return -1;
     }
@@ -1482,7 +1483,8 @@ static void win32_rearm_timer(struct qemu_alarm_timer *t)
                         TIME_ONESHOT | TIME_PERIODIC);
 
     if (!data->timerId) {
-        perror("Failed to re-arm win32 alarm timer");
+        fprintf(stderr, "Failed to re-arm win32 alarm timer %d\n",
+                GetLastError());
 
         timeEndPeriod(data->period);
         exit(1);
@@ -3379,7 +3381,7 @@ static int qemu_event_init(void)
 {
     qemu_event_handle = CreateEvent(NULL, FALSE, FALSE, NULL);
     if (!qemu_event_handle) {
-        perror("Failed CreateEvent");
+        fprintf(stderr, "Failed CreateEvent: %d\n", GetLastError());
         return -1;
     }
     qemu_add_wait_object(qemu_event_handle, dummy_event_handler, NULL);