diff --git a/src/core/android/SDL_android.c b/src/core/android/SDL_android.c
index 34c939e3b..8bf816610 100644
--- a/src/core/android/SDL_android.c
+++ b/src/core/android/SDL_android.c
@@ -1975,12 +1975,12 @@ int Android_JNI_FileOpen(SDL_RWops *ctx,
     }
 
     if (asset_manager == NULL) {
-        return -1;
+        return SDL_SetError("Couldn't create asset manager");
     }
 
     asset = AAssetManager_open(asset_manager, fileName, AASSET_MODE_UNKNOWN);
     if (asset == NULL) {
-        return -1;
+        return SDL_SetError("Couldn't open asset '%s'", fileName);
     }
 
     ctx->hidden.androidio.asset = (void *)asset;