diff --git a/modules/modules.go b/modules/modules.go
index f4cc9fa..76f45f7 100644
--- a/modules/modules.go
+++ b/modules/modules.go
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func initDependencies() error {
 			// get dependency
 			depModule, ok := modules[depName]
 			if !ok {
-				return fmt.Errorf("modules: module %s declares dependency \"%s\", but this module has not been registered", m.Name, depName)
+				return fmt.Errorf("module %s declares dependency \"%s\", but this module has not been registered", m.Name, depName)
 			}
 
 			// link together
diff --git a/modules/start.go b/modules/start.go
index 8d6ae88..8ac5acf 100644
--- a/modules/start.go
+++ b/modules/start.go
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ func Start() error {
 	// inter-link modules
 	err := initDependencies()
 	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "CRITICAL ERROR: failed to initialize modules: %s\n", err)
 		return err
 	}