diff --git a/src/video_capture/aja.cpp b/src/video_capture/aja.cpp
index 465b7f5a4..d5df3ebf0 100644
--- a/src/video_capture/aja.cpp
+++ b/src/video_capture/aja.cpp
@@ -122,8 +122,8 @@ volatile bool *aja_should_exit = &should_exit;
 } while(0)
 #define NOOP ((void)0)
 
-#define CHECK_RET_FAIL(cmd) CHECK_OK(cmd, #cmd, return AJA_STATUS_FAIL)
-#define CHECK(cmd) CHECK_OK(cmd, #cmd, NOOP)
+#define CHECK_RET_FAIL(cmd) CHECK_OK(cmd, #cmd " failed", return AJA_STATUS_FAIL)
+#define CHECK(cmd) CHECK_OK(cmd, #cmd " failed", NOOP)
 
 using namespace std;
 
diff --git a/src/video_display/aja.cpp b/src/video_display/aja.cpp
index 742cc9de9..1776e7bc8 100644
--- a/src/video_display/aja.cpp
+++ b/src/video_display/aja.cpp
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ using std::vector;
 }\
 } while(0)
 #define NOOP ((void)0)
-#define CHECK(cmd) CHECK_EX(cmd, #cmd, NOOP)
+#define CHECK(cmd) CHECK_EX(cmd, #cmd " failed", NOOP)
 
 namespace ultragrid {
 namespace aja {