diff --git a/sftp/exporter/sftp.go b/sftp/exporter/sftp.go
index bd7aa1f..163ba26 100644
--- a/sftp/exporter/sftp.go
+++ b/sftp/exporter/sftp.go
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ func NewExporter(ctx context.Context, opt *connectors.Options, name string, conf
 
 	client, err := plakarsftp.Connect(parsed, config)
 	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "SSH connection to %s failed: %s\n", parsed.Host, err)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
diff --git a/sftp/importer/sftp.go b/sftp/importer/sftp.go
index 67ee935..b211d2f 100644
--- a/sftp/importer/sftp.go
+++ b/sftp/importer/sftp.go
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ func NewImporter(appCtx context.Context, opts *connectors.Options, name string,
 
 	client, err := plakarsftp.Connect(parsed, config)
 	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "SSH connection to %s failed: %s\n", parsed.Host, err)
 		return nil, err
 	}