diff --git a/devices/geiger/gqgmc.go b/devices/geiger/gqgmc.go
index 717f118d34a1c0e27aec8b02db3a1f8988d42380..7702622911a53818a5e63b7b829a34edb2912024 100644
--- a/devices/geiger/gqgmc.go
+++ b/devices/geiger/gqgmc.go
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ func (gc *GQGMCCounter) readCmd(length uint32) ([]byte, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	if uint32(n) != length {
-		return nil, errors.New("Short read")
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Short read (got: %d, wanted: %d)", uint32(n), length)
 	}
 	return buf, nil
 }