diff --git a/gumble/gumbleopenal/stream.go b/gumble/gumbleopenal/stream.go
index 86b6b34..5d061cb 100644
--- a/gumble/gumbleopenal/stream.go
+++ b/gumble/gumbleopenal/stream.go
@@ -70,14 +70,16 @@ type Stream struct {
 	client *gumble.Client
 	link   gumble.Detacher
 
-	deviceSource    *openal.CaptureDevice
-	sourceFormat    openal.Format
-	sourceChannels  int
-	sourceFrameSize int
-	micVolume       atomic.Uint32 // float32 stored as bits
-	sourceMu        sync.Mutex
-	sourceStop      chan bool
-	sourceDone      chan struct{}
+	deviceSource     *openal.CaptureDevice
+	inputDeviceName  string
+	outputDeviceName string
+	sourceFormat     openal.Format
+	sourceChannels   int
+	sourceFrameSize  int
+	micVolume        atomic.Uint32 // float32 stored as bits
+	sourceMu         sync.Mutex
+	sourceStop       chan bool
+	sourceDone       chan struct{}
 
 	deviceSink   *openal.Device
 	contextSink  *openal.Context
@@ -154,11 +156,13 @@ func New(client *gumble.Client, inputDevice *string, outputDevice *string, test
 	}
 
 	s := &Stream{
-		client:          client,
-		sourceFormat:    inputFormat,
-		sourceChannels:  sourceChannels,
-		sourceFrameSize: frmsz,
-		micAGC:          audio.NewAGC(), // Always enable AGC for outgoing mic
+		client:           client,
+		inputDeviceName:  devName,
+		outputDeviceName: outName,
+		sourceFormat:     inputFormat,
+		sourceChannels:   sourceChannels,
+		sourceFrameSize:  frmsz,
+		micAGC:           audio.NewAGC(), // Always enable AGC for outgoing mic
 	}
 	s.micVolume.Store(math.Float32bits(1.0))
 	if sourceChannels == 2 {
@@ -167,21 +171,21 @@ func New(client *gumble.Client, inputDevice *string, outputDevice *string, test
 
 	s.deviceSource = idev
 	if s.deviceSource == nil {
-		return nil, ErrInputDevice
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: capture device %q is unavailable", ErrInputDevice, deviceName(devName))
 	}
 
 	s.deviceSink = odev
 	if s.deviceSink == nil {
-		return nil, ErrOutputDevice
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: playback device %q is unavailable", ErrOutputDevice, deviceName(outName))
 	}
 	s.contextSink = s.deviceSink.CreateContext()
 	if s.contextSink == nil {
 		err := s.deviceSink.Err()
 		s.Destroy()
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %v", ErrOutputDevice, err)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: creating context for playback device %q: %v", ErrOutputDevice, deviceName(outName), err)
 		}
-		return nil, ErrOutputDevice
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: could not create context for playback device %q", ErrOutputDevice, deviceName(outName))
 	}
 	// OpenAL contexts are current to an OS thread. Move ownership to one
 	// dedicated render thread before any source or buffer is created.
@@ -360,11 +364,11 @@ func (s *Stream) StartSource(inputDevice *string) error {
 		return ErrState
 	}
 	if s.deviceSource == nil {
-		return ErrMic
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: capture device %q is unavailable", ErrMic, deviceName(s.inputDeviceName))
 	}
 	s.deviceSource.CaptureStart()
 	if err := s.deviceSource.Err(); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %v", ErrMic, err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: starting capture device %q: %v", ErrMic, deviceName(s.inputDeviceName), err)
 	}
 	stop := make(chan bool)
 	done := make(chan struct{})
@@ -386,11 +390,11 @@ func (s *Stream) StopSource() error {
 	// The routine owns capture access; wait for it before closing/reusing it.
 	<-done
 	if s.deviceSource == nil {
-		return ErrMic
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: capture device %q is unavailable", ErrMic, deviceName(s.inputDeviceName))
 	}
 	s.deviceSource.CaptureStop()
 	if err := s.deviceSource.Err(); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %v", ErrMic, err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: stopping capture device %q: %v", ErrMic, deviceName(s.inputDeviceName), err)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/gumble/gumbleopenal/stream_regression_test.go b/gumble/gumbleopenal/stream_regression_test.go
index 996f930..9832178 100644
--- a/gumble/gumbleopenal/stream_regression_test.go
+++ b/gumble/gumbleopenal/stream_regression_test.go
@@ -25,6 +25,15 @@ func TestDeviceOpenErrorsIncludeConfiguredDevice(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// Regression: later capture start failures also omitted the configured device.
+func TestStartSourceUnavailableDeviceIncludesName(t *testing.T) {
+	s := &Stream{inputDeviceName: "virtual_mic.monitor"}
+	err := s.StartSource(nil)
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrMic) || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "virtual_mic.monitor") {
+		t.Fatalf("start error %q", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestStopSourceWaitsForWorker(t *testing.T) {
 	stop, done := make(chan bool), make(chan struct{})
 	s := &Stream{sourceStop: stop, sourceDone: done}