diff --git a/lib/ssluse.c b/lib/ssluse.c
index ef60e5e34..121ba2bf6 100644
--- a/lib/ssluse.c
+++ b/lib/ssluse.c
@@ -1463,7 +1463,8 @@ ossl_connect_step1(struct connectdata *conn,
   connssl->ctx = SSL_CTX_new(req_method);
 
   if(!connssl->ctx) {
-    failf(data, "SSL: couldn't create a context!");
+    failf(data, "SSL: couldn't create a context: %s",
+          ERR_error_string(ERR_peek_last_error(), NULL));
     return CURLE_OUT_OF_MEMORY;
   }