diff --git a/reframe/frontend/cli.py b/reframe/frontend/cli.py
index 19a066d0f8..e145218fe1 100644
--- a/reframe/frontend/cli.py
+++ b/reframe/frontend/cli.py
@@ -498,8 +498,9 @@ def main():
         try:
             rt.system.preload_environ.load()
         except EnvironError as e:
-            printer.error("failed to load current's system environment; "
+            printer.error("failed to load current system's environment; "
                           "please check your configuration")
+            printer.debug(str(e))
             raise
 
         for m in options.user_modules: