diff --git a/lib/iscsi/conn.c b/lib/iscsi/conn.c
index a4ffc8eeee..cd16e07c57 100644
--- a/lib/iscsi/conn.c
+++ b/lib/iscsi/conn.c
@@ -973,7 +973,8 @@ spdk_iscsi_conn_read_data(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn, int bytes,
 			return 0;
 		} else {
 			spdk_strerror_r(errno, errbuf, sizeof(errbuf));
-			SPDK_ERRLOG("Socket read error(%d): %s\n", errno, errbuf);
+			SPDK_ERRLOG("spdk_sock_recv() failed (fd=%d), errno %d: %s\n",
+				    conn->sock, errno, errbuf);
 		}
 		return SPDK_ISCSI_CONNECTION_FATAL;
 	}
@@ -1181,6 +1182,7 @@ spdk_iscsi_conn_flush_pdus_internal(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn)
 	uint32_t writev_offset;
 	struct spdk_iscsi_pdu *pdu;
 	int pdu_length;
+	char buf[64];
 
 	pdu = TAILQ_FIRST(&conn->write_pdu_list);
 
@@ -1229,7 +1231,9 @@ spdk_iscsi_conn_flush_pdus_internal(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn)
 		if (errno == EWOULDBLOCK || errno == EAGAIN) {
 			return 0;
 		} else {
-			perror("writev");
+			spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+			SPDK_ERRLOG("spdk_sock_writev() failed (fd=%d), errno %d: %s\n",
+				    conn->sock, errno, buf);
 			return -1;
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/lib/iscsi/init_grp.c b/lib/iscsi/init_grp.c
index cf5a9c51e0..34cad2ef1a 100644
--- a/lib/iscsi/init_grp.c
+++ b/lib/iscsi/init_grp.c
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include "spdk/stdinc.h"
 
 #include "spdk/conf.h"
+#include "spdk/string.h"
 
 #include "spdk_internal/log.h"
 
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ static struct spdk_iscsi_init_grp *
 spdk_iscsi_init_grp_create(int tag)
 {
 	struct spdk_iscsi_init_grp *ig;
+	char buf[64];
 
 	if (spdk_iscsi_init_grp_find_by_tag(tag)) {
 		SPDK_ERRLOG("duplicate initiator group tag (%d)\n", tag);
@@ -53,7 +55,9 @@ spdk_iscsi_init_grp_create(int tag)
 
 	ig = calloc(1, sizeof(*ig));
 	if (ig == NULL) {
-		SPDK_ERRLOG("initiator group malloc error (tag=%d)\n", tag);
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("calloc() failed for initiator group (tag=%d), errno %d: %s\n",
+			    tag, errno, buf);
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
@@ -81,6 +85,7 @@ spdk_iscsi_init_grp_add_initiator(struct spdk_iscsi_init_grp *ig, char *name)
 {
 	struct spdk_iscsi_initiator_name *iname;
 	char *p;
+	char buf[64];
 
 	if (ig->ninitiators >= MAX_INITIATOR) {
 		SPDK_ERRLOG("> MAX_INITIATOR(=%d) is not allowed\n", MAX_INITIATOR);
@@ -94,11 +99,17 @@ spdk_iscsi_init_grp_add_initiator(struct spdk_iscsi_init_grp *ig, char *name)
 
 	iname = malloc(sizeof(*iname));
 	if (iname == NULL) {
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for initiator name str, errno %d: %s\n",
+			    errno, buf);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
 	iname->name = strdup(name);
 	if (iname->name == NULL) {
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("strdup() failed for initiator name, errno %d: %s\n",
+			    errno, buf);
 		free(iname);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
@@ -187,6 +198,7 @@ spdk_iscsi_init_grp_add_netmask(struct spdk_iscsi_init_grp *ig, char *mask)
 {
 	struct spdk_iscsi_initiator_netmask *imask;
 	char *p;
+	char buf[64];
 
 	if (ig->nnetmasks >= MAX_NETMASK) {
 		SPDK_ERRLOG("> MAX_NETMASK(=%d) is not allowed\n", MAX_NETMASK);
@@ -200,11 +212,17 @@ spdk_iscsi_init_grp_add_netmask(struct spdk_iscsi_init_grp *ig, char *mask)
 
 	imask = malloc(sizeof(*imask));
 	if (imask == NULL) {
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for inititator mask str, errno %d: %s\n",
+			    errno, buf);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
 	imask->mask = strdup(mask);
 	if (imask->mask == NULL) {
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("strdup() failed for initiator mask, errno %d: %s\n",
+			    errno, buf);
 		free(imask);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
@@ -286,6 +304,7 @@ spdk_iscsi_init_grp_create_from_configfile(struct spdk_conf_section *sp)
 	int num_initiator_masks;
 	char **initiators = NULL, **netmasks = NULL;
 	int tag = spdk_conf_section_get_num(sp);
+	char buf[64];
 
 	SPDK_DEBUGLOG(SPDK_LOG_ISCSI, "add initiator group %d\n", tag);
 
@@ -328,7 +347,9 @@ spdk_iscsi_init_grp_create_from_configfile(struct spdk_conf_section *sp)
 
 	initiators = calloc(num_initiator_names, sizeof(char *));
 	if (!initiators) {
-		perror("initiators");
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("calloc() failed for temp initiator name array, errno %d: %s\n",
+			    errno, buf);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 	for (i = 0; i < num_initiator_names; i++) {
@@ -341,14 +362,18 @@ spdk_iscsi_init_grp_create_from_configfile(struct spdk_conf_section *sp)
 		SPDK_DEBUGLOG(SPDK_LOG_ISCSI, "InitiatorName %s\n", val);
 		initiators[i] = strdup(val);
 		if (!initiators[i]) {
-			perror("initiator name copy");
+			spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+			SPDK_ERRLOG("strdup() failed for temp initiator name, errno %d: %s\n",
+				    errno, buf);
 			rc = -ENOMEM;
 			goto cleanup;
 		}
 	}
 	netmasks = calloc(num_initiator_masks, sizeof(char *));
 	if (!netmasks) {
-		perror("netmasks");
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for portal group (tag=%d), errno %d: %s\n",
+			    tag, errno, buf);
 		rc = -ENOMEM;
 		goto cleanup;
 	}
@@ -362,7 +387,9 @@ spdk_iscsi_init_grp_create_from_configfile(struct spdk_conf_section *sp)
 		SPDK_DEBUGLOG(SPDK_LOG_ISCSI, "Netmask %s\n", val);
 		netmasks[i] = strdup(val);
 		if (!netmasks[i]) {
-			perror("initiator netmask copy");
+			spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+			SPDK_ERRLOG("strdup() failed for temp initiator mask, errno %d: %s\n",
+				    errno, buf);
 			rc = -ENOMEM;
 			goto cleanup;
 		}
diff --git a/lib/iscsi/iscsi.c b/lib/iscsi/iscsi.c
index 915ed7a97a..4ffc1673e1 100644
--- a/lib/iscsi/iscsi.c
+++ b/lib/iscsi/iscsi.c
@@ -774,6 +774,7 @@ spdk_iscsi_get_authinfo(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn, const char *authuser)
 	char *authfile = NULL;
 	int ag_tag;
 	int rc;
+	char buf[64];
 
 	if (conn->sess->target != NULL) {
 		ag_tag = conn->sess->target->auth_group;
@@ -791,7 +792,9 @@ spdk_iscsi_get_authinfo(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn, const char *authuser)
 	authfile = strdup(g_spdk_iscsi.authfile);
 	pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_spdk_iscsi.mutex);
 	if (!authfile) {
-		perror("authfile");
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("strdup() failed from %s to authfile, errno %d: %s\n",
+			    g_spdk_iscsi.authfile, errno, buf);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
@@ -819,6 +822,7 @@ spdk_iscsi_auth_params(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn,
 	const char *challenge;
 	int total;
 	int rc;
+	char buf[64];
 
 	if (conn == NULL || params == NULL || method == NULL) {
 		return -1;
@@ -843,7 +847,9 @@ spdk_iscsi_auth_params(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn,
 	/* for temporary store */
 	in_val = malloc(ISCSI_TEXT_MAX_VAL_LEN + 1);
 	if (!in_val) {
-		perror("in_val");
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for temporary store, errno %d: %s\n",
+			    errno, buf);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
@@ -1043,6 +1049,7 @@ spdk_iscsi_reject(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn, struct spdk_iscsi_pdu *pdu,
 	int total_ahs_len;
 	int data_len;
 	int alloc_len;
+	char buf[64];
 
 	total_ahs_len = pdu->bhs.total_ahs_len;
 	data_len = 0;
@@ -1054,7 +1061,9 @@ spdk_iscsi_reject(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn, struct spdk_iscsi_pdu *pdu,
 
 	data = malloc(alloc_len);
 	if (!data) {
-		perror("data");
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for data segment, errno %d: %s\n",
+			    errno, buf);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
@@ -1830,6 +1839,7 @@ spdk_iscsi_op_login_rsp_init(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn,
 	struct iscsi_bhs_login_req *reqh;
 	struct iscsi_bhs_login_rsp *rsph;
 	int rc;
+	char buf[64];
 
 	rsph = (struct iscsi_bhs_login_rsp *)&rsp_pdu->bhs;
 	rsph->opcode = ISCSI_OP_LOGIN_RSP;
@@ -1846,7 +1856,9 @@ spdk_iscsi_op_login_rsp_init(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn,
 
 	rsp_pdu->data = malloc(*alloc_len);
 	if (!rsp_pdu->data) {
-		perror("data");
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for data segment, errno %d: %s\n",
+			    errno, buf);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
@@ -2265,6 +2277,7 @@ spdk_iscsi_op_text(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn, struct spdk_iscsi_pdu *pdu)
 	int rc;
 	struct iscsi_bhs_text_req *reqh;
 	struct iscsi_bhs_text_resp *rsph;
+	char buf[64];
 
 	data_len = 0;
 	alloc_len = conn->MaxRecvDataSegmentLength;
@@ -2328,7 +2341,8 @@ spdk_iscsi_op_text(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn, struct spdk_iscsi_pdu *pdu)
 
 	data = malloc(alloc_len);
 	if (!data) {
-		perror("data");
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for data segment, errno %d: %s\n", errno, buf);
 		spdk_iscsi_param_free(params);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
@@ -3436,6 +3450,7 @@ spdk_iscsi_op_nopout(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn, struct spdk_iscsi_pdu *pdu)
 	uint32_t CmdSN;
 	int I_bit;
 	int data_len;
+	char buf[64];
 
 	if (conn->sess->session_type == SESSION_TYPE_DISCOVERY) {
 		SPDK_ERRLOG("ISCSI_OP_NOPOUT not allowed in discovery session\n");
@@ -3493,7 +3508,9 @@ spdk_iscsi_op_nopout(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn, struct spdk_iscsi_pdu *pdu)
 
 	data = malloc(data_len);
 	if (!data) {
-		perror("could not allocate ping buffer");
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for ping data, errno %d: %s\n",
+			    errno, buf);
 		return SPDK_ISCSI_CONNECTION_FATAL;
 	}
 	memset(data, 0, data_len);
@@ -4532,6 +4549,7 @@ spdk_create_iscsi_sess(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn,
 {
 	struct spdk_iscsi_sess *sess;
 	int rc;
+	char buf[64];
 
 	sess = spdk_mempool_get(g_spdk_iscsi.session_pool);
 	if (!sess) {
@@ -4570,7 +4588,9 @@ spdk_create_iscsi_sess(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn,
 
 	sess->conns = malloc(sizeof(*sess->conns) * sess->MaxConnections);
 	if (!sess->conns) {
-		perror("conns");
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for connection array, errno %d: %s\n",
+			    errno, buf);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
diff --git a/lib/iscsi/iscsi_subsystem.c b/lib/iscsi/iscsi_subsystem.c
index c4c2fc52ab..2898e0009c 100644
--- a/lib/iscsi/iscsi_subsystem.c
+++ b/lib/iscsi/iscsi_subsystem.c
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 
 #include "spdk/stdinc.h"
 #include "spdk/env.h"
+#include "spdk/string.h"
 
 #include "iscsi/iscsi.h"
 #include "iscsi/init_grp.h"
@@ -741,6 +742,7 @@ spdk_iscsi_app_read_parameters(void)
 {
 	struct spdk_conf_section *sp;
 	int rc;
+	char buf[64];
 
 	g_spdk_iscsi.MaxSessions = DEFAULT_MAX_SESSIONS;
 	g_spdk_iscsi.MaxConnectionsPerSession = DEFAULT_MAX_CONNECTIONS_PER_SESSION;
@@ -777,7 +779,9 @@ spdk_iscsi_app_read_parameters(void)
 
 	g_spdk_iscsi.session = spdk_dma_zmalloc(sizeof(void *) * g_spdk_iscsi.MaxSessions, 0, NULL);
 	if (!g_spdk_iscsi.session) {
-		SPDK_ERRLOG("could not allocate session array\n");
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("spdk_dma_zmalloc() failed for session array, errno %d: %s\n",
+			    errno, buf);
 		return -1;
 	}
 
diff --git a/lib/iscsi/param.c b/lib/iscsi/param.c
index 89e5727ab7..96c07c6ebb 100644
--- a/lib/iscsi/param.c
+++ b/lib/iscsi/param.c
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ spdk_iscsi_param_add(struct iscsi_param **params, const char *key,
 		     const char *val, const char *list, int type)
 {
 	struct iscsi_param *param, *last_param;
+	char buf[64];
 
 	SPDK_DEBUGLOG(SPDK_LOG_ISCSI, "add %s=%s, list=[%s], type=%d\n",
 		      key, val, list, type);
@@ -145,7 +146,8 @@ spdk_iscsi_param_add(struct iscsi_param **params, const char *key,
 
 	param = malloc(sizeof * param);
 	if (!param) {
-		perror("param");
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for parameter, errno %d: %s\n", errno, buf);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
@@ -223,6 +225,7 @@ spdk_iscsi_parse_param(struct iscsi_param **params, const uint8_t *data)
 	const uint8_t *key_end, *val;
 	int key_len, val_len;
 	int max_len;
+	char buf[64];
 
 	key_end = strchr(data, '=');
 	if (!key_end) {
@@ -245,7 +248,8 @@ spdk_iscsi_parse_param(struct iscsi_param **params, const uint8_t *data)
 
 	key_copy = malloc(key_len + 1);
 	if (!key_copy) {
-		perror("key_copy");
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for key_copy, errno %d: %s\n", errno, buf);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
@@ -520,10 +524,12 @@ spdk_iscsi_special_param_construction(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn,
 	uint32_t FirstBurstLength;
 	uint32_t MaxBurstLength;
 	char *val;
+	char buf[64];
 
 	val = malloc(ISCSI_TEXT_MAX_VAL_LEN + 1);
 	if (!val) {
-		perror("val");
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for temporary buffer, errno %d: %s\n", errno, buf);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
@@ -885,6 +891,8 @@ spdk_iscsi_negotiate_params(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn,
 	uint32_t MaxBurstLength;
 	bool FirstBurstLength_flag = false;
 	int type;
+	char buf[64];
+
 	total = data_len;
 	if (alloc_len < 1) {
 		return 0;
@@ -921,20 +929,23 @@ spdk_iscsi_negotiate_params(struct spdk_iscsi_conn *conn,
 	/* for temporary store */
 	valid_list = malloc(ISCSI_TEXT_MAX_VAL_LEN + 1);
 	if (!valid_list) {
-		perror("valid_list");
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for valid_list, errno %d: %s\n", errno, buf);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
 	in_val = malloc(ISCSI_TEXT_MAX_VAL_LEN + 1);
 	if (!in_val) {
-		perror("in_val");
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for in_val, errno %d: %s\n", errno, buf);
 		free(valid_list);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
 	cur_val = malloc(ISCSI_TEXT_MAX_VAL_LEN + 1);
 	if (!cur_val) {
-		perror("cur_val");
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for cur_val, errno %d: %s\n", errno, buf);
 		free(valid_list);
 		free(in_val);
 		return -ENOMEM;
diff --git a/lib/iscsi/portal_grp.c b/lib/iscsi/portal_grp.c
index 79cbd61870..5aef413555 100644
--- a/lib/iscsi/portal_grp.c
+++ b/lib/iscsi/portal_grp.c
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include "spdk/conf.h"
 #include "spdk/net.h"
 #include "spdk/event.h"
+#include "spdk/string.h"
 
 #include "spdk_internal/log.h"
 
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@ struct spdk_iscsi_portal *
 spdk_iscsi_portal_create(const char *host, const char *port, uint64_t cpumask)
 {
 	struct spdk_iscsi_portal *p = NULL;
+	char buf[64];
 
 	assert(host != NULL);
 	assert(port != NULL);
@@ -81,7 +83,9 @@ spdk_iscsi_portal_create(const char *host, const char *port, uint64_t cpumask)
 
 	p = malloc(sizeof(*p));
 	if (!p) {
-		SPDK_ERRLOG("portal malloc error (%s, %s)\n", host, port);
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for portal (%s, %s), errno %d: %s\n",
+			    host, port, errno, buf);
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
@@ -168,9 +172,9 @@ spdk_iscsi_portal_create_from_configline(const char *portalstring,
 	char *host = NULL, *port = NULL;
 	const char *cpumask_str;
 	uint64_t cpumask = 0;
-
 	int n, len, rc = -1;
 	const char *p, *q;
+	char buf[64];
 
 	if (portalstring == NULL) {
 		SPDK_ERRLOG("portal error\n");
@@ -189,7 +193,9 @@ spdk_iscsi_portal_create_from_configline(const char *portalstring,
 		if (!dry_run) {
 			host = malloc(n + 1);
 			if (!host) {
-				perror("host");
+				spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+				SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for host, errno %d: %s\n",
+					    errno, buf);
 				goto error_out;
 			}
 			memcpy(host, portalstring, n);
@@ -199,7 +205,9 @@ spdk_iscsi_portal_create_from_configline(const char *portalstring,
 			if (!dry_run) {
 				port = malloc(PORTNUMSTRLEN);
 				if (!port) {
-					perror("port");
+					spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+					SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for port, errno %d: %s\n",
+						    errno, buf);
 					goto error_out;
 				}
 				snprintf(port, PORTNUMSTRLEN, "%d", DEFAULT_PORT);
@@ -218,7 +226,9 @@ spdk_iscsi_portal_create_from_configline(const char *portalstring,
 
 				port = malloc(len + 1);
 				if (!port) {
-					perror("port");
+					spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+					SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for port, errno %d: %s\n",
+						    errno, buf);
 					goto error_out;
 				}
 				memset(port, 0, len + 1);
@@ -235,7 +245,9 @@ spdk_iscsi_portal_create_from_configline(const char *portalstring,
 		if (!dry_run) {
 			host = malloc(n + 1);
 			if (!host) {
-				perror("host");
+				spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+				SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for host, errno %d: %s\n",
+					    errno, buf);
 				goto error_out;
 			}
 			memcpy(host, portalstring, n);
@@ -245,7 +257,9 @@ spdk_iscsi_portal_create_from_configline(const char *portalstring,
 			if (!dry_run) {
 				port = malloc(PORTNUMSTRLEN);
 				if (!port) {
-					perror("port");
+					spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+					SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for port, errno %d: %s\n",
+						    errno, buf);
 					goto error_out;
 				}
 				snprintf(port, PORTNUMSTRLEN, "%d", DEFAULT_PORT);
@@ -269,7 +283,9 @@ spdk_iscsi_portal_create_from_configline(const char *portalstring,
 				len = q - p - 1;
 				port = malloc(len + 1);
 				if (!port) {
-					perror("port");
+					spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+					SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for port, errno %d: %s\n",
+						    errno, buf);
 					goto error_out;
 				}
 				memset(port, 0, len + 1);
@@ -305,8 +321,12 @@ spdk_iscsi_portal_create_from_configline(const char *portalstring,
 
 	rc = 0;
 error_out:
-	free(host);
-	free(port);
+	if (host) {
+		free(host);
+	}
+	if (port) {
+		free(port);
+	}
 
 	return rc;
 }
@@ -314,10 +334,13 @@ error_out:
 struct spdk_iscsi_portal_grp *
 spdk_iscsi_portal_grp_create(int tag)
 {
+	char buf[64];
 	struct spdk_iscsi_portal_grp *pg = malloc(sizeof(*pg));
 
 	if (!pg) {
-		SPDK_ERRLOG("portal group malloc error (%d)\n", tag);
+		spdk_strerror_r(errno, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("malloc() failed for portal group (tag=%d), errno %d: %s\n",
+			    tag, errno, buf);
 		return NULL;
 	}