j->can_discard = can_discard;
 
        if (nr_online < metadata_replicas_required(c)) {
+               struct printbuf buf = PRINTBUF;
+               prt_printf(&buf, "insufficient writeable journal devices available: have %u, need %u\n"
+                          "rw journal devs:", nr_online, metadata_replicas_required(c));
+
+               rcu_read_lock();
+               for_each_member_device_rcu(c, ca, &c->rw_devs[BCH_DATA_journal])
+                       prt_printf(&buf, " %s", ca->name);
+               rcu_read_unlock();
+
+               bch_err(c, "%s", buf.buf);
+               printbuf_exit(&buf);
                ret = JOURNAL_ERR_insufficient_devices;
                goto out;
        }