diff --git a/src/libostree/ostree-repo-commit.c b/src/libostree/ostree-repo-commit.c
index a761a8a9..7cc3e27b 100644
--- a/src/libostree/ostree-repo-commit.c
+++ b/src/libostree/ostree-repo-commit.c
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ write_file_metadata_to_xattr (int fd,
   if (G_UNLIKELY (res == -1))
     {
       gs_set_error_from_errno (error, errno);
+      g_prefix_error (error, "Unable to set xattr: ");
       return FALSE;
     }