diff --git a/lib/pure/streams.nim b/lib/pure/streams.nim
index f1a6a6aeb8..28d9d7612f 100644
--- a/lib/pure/streams.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/streams.nim
@@ -1241,7 +1241,7 @@ when not defined(js):
     if open(f, filename, mode, bufSize):
       return newFileStream(f)
     else:
-      raise newEIO("cannot open file\n")
+      raise newEIO("cannot open file stream: " & filename)
 
 when false:
   type