diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/__init__.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/__init__.py
index fa4463de8..622b7d813 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/__init__.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/__init__.py
@@ -414,9 +414,12 @@ def main() -> None:
         args.func(args)
     except ClanError as e:
         if isinstance(e, ClanCmdError):
+            msg = ""
             if e.cmd.msg:
-                log.fatal(e.cmd.msg)
-                sys.exit(1)
+                msg += f"{e.cmd.msg}: "
+            msg += f"command exited with code {e.cmd.returncode}: {e.cmd.command}"
+            log.error(msg)  # noqa: TRY400
+            sys.exit(1)
 
         log.fatal(e.msg)
         if e.description: