diff --git a/creator/remote.go b/creator/remote.go
index b3fa56eba..cd637720e 100644
--- a/creator/remote.go
+++ b/creator/remote.go
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func (c *RemoteCluster) Start() error {
 		}
 		err = w.Close()
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			return fmt.Errorf("closing config writer: %v", err)
 		}
 
 		// Start pilosa on remote host