diff --git a/system/s3_lib.py b/system/s3_lib.py
index 6e06c020..bf74a93b 100644
--- a/system/s3_lib.py
+++ b/system/s3_lib.py
@@ -8,8 +8,10 @@ try:
     if 'AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY' in os.environ and 'AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID' in os.environ:
         s3_conn = boto.connect_s3()
     else:
+        print "S3 tests disabled: AWS creds not found in the environment"
         s3_conn = None
-except ImportError:
+except ImportError, e:
+    print "S3 tests disabled: can't import boto", e
     s3_conn = None
 
 
diff --git a/system/swift_lib.py b/system/swift_lib.py
index 30b50ad0..2ddb0e15 100644
--- a/system/swift_lib.py
+++ b/system/swift_lib.py
@@ -23,8 +23,10 @@ try:
         swift_conn = swiftclient.Connection(auth_url, auth_username,
                                             auth_password, auth_version=1)
     else:
+        print "Swift tests disabled: OpenStack creds not found in the environment"
         swift_conn = None
-except ImportError:
+except ImportError, e:
+    print "Swift tests disabled: unable to import swiftclient", e
     swift_conn = None