diff --git a/lib/connect.c b/lib/connect.c
index 9d29a0a27e..f6d10f60e2 100644
--- a/lib/connect.c
+++ b/lib/connect.c
@@ -745,6 +745,7 @@ CURLcode Curl_connecthost(struct connectdata *conn,  /* context */
   if (sockfd == CURL_SOCKET_BAD) {
     /* no good connect was made */
     *sockconn = CURL_SOCKET_BAD;
+    failf(data, "couldn't connect to host");
     return CURLE_COULDNT_CONNECT;
   }