diff --git a/usr.sbin/bsnmpd/tools/bsnmptools/bsnmpget.c b/usr.sbin/bsnmpd/tools/bsnmptools/bsnmpget.c
--- a/usr.sbin/bsnmpd/tools/bsnmptools/bsnmpget.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/bsnmpd/tools/bsnmptools/bsnmpget.c
@@ -1179,8 +1179,10 @@
 		/* On -h (help) exit without error. */
 		if (opt_num == -2)
 			exit(0);
-		else
+		else {
+			fprintf(stderr, "Error: %s\n", snmp_client.error);
 			exit(1);
+		}
 	}
 
 	oid_cnt = argc - opt_num - 1;
@@ -1239,7 +1241,7 @@
 	}
 
 	if (snmp_open(NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL)) {
-		warn("Failed to open snmp session");
+		fprintf(stderr, "snmp_open(3): %s\n", snmp_client.error);
 		snmp_tool_freeall(&snmptoolctx);
 		exit(1);
 	}