diff --git a/include/extern.h b/include/extern.h
index d1429d6d5..ecf83601c 100644
--- a/include/extern.h
+++ b/include/extern.h
@@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ E int FDECL(create_levelfile, (int,char *));
 E int FDECL(open_levelfile, (int,char *));
 E void FDECL(delete_levelfile, (int));
 E void NDECL(clearlocks);
-E int FDECL(create_bonesfile, (d_level*,char **));
+E int FDECL(create_bonesfile, (d_level*,char **, char *));
 #ifdef MFLOPPY
 E void NDECL(cancel_bonesfile);
 #endif
diff --git a/src/bones.c b/src/bones.c
index 79f5f0dfe..e10b9ae11 100644
--- a/src/bones.c
+++ b/src/bones.c
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ struct obj *corpse;
 	struct permonst *mptr;
 	struct fruit *f;
 	char c, *bonesid;
+	char whynot[BUFSZ];
 
 	/* caller has already checked `can_make_bones()' */
 
@@ -308,12 +309,16 @@ struct obj *corpse;
 	    levl[x][y].glyph = cmap_to_glyph(S_stone);
 	}
 
-	fd = create_bonesfile(&u.uz, &bonesid);
+	fd = create_bonesfile(&u.uz, &bonesid, whynot);
 	if(fd < 0) {
 #ifdef WIZARD
 		if(wizard)
-			pline("Cannot create bones file - create failed");
+			pline("%s", whynot);
 #endif
+		/* bones file creation problems are silent to the player.
+		 * Keep it that way, but place a clue into the paniclog.
+		 */
+		paniclog("savebones", whynot);
 		return;
 	}
 	c = (char) (strlen(bonesid) + 1);
diff --git a/src/files.c b/src/files.c
index d44824ef6..afe838eaf 100644
--- a/src/files.c
+++ b/src/files.c
@@ -633,13 +633,15 @@ set_bonestemp_name()
 }
 
 int
-create_bonesfile(lev, bonesid)
+create_bonesfile(lev, bonesid, errbuf)
 d_level *lev;
 char **bonesid;
+char errbuf[];
 {
 	const char *file;
 	int fd;
 
+	if (errbuf) *errbuf = '\0';
 	*bonesid = set_bonesfile_name(bones, lev);
 	file = set_bonestemp_name();
 	file = fqname(file, BONESPREFIX, 0);
@@ -655,6 +657,12 @@ char **bonesid;
 # else
 	fd = creat(file, FCMASK);
 # endif
+#endif
+	if (fd < 0 && errbuf) /* failure explanation */
+	    Sprintf(errbuf,
+		    "Cannot create bones \"%s\", id %s (errno %d).",
+		    lock, *bonesid, errno);
+
 # if defined(VMS) && !defined(SECURE)
 	/*
 	   Re-protect bones file with world:read+write+execute+delete access.
@@ -666,7 +674,6 @@ char **bonesid;
 	 */
 	(void) chmod(file, FCMASK | 007);  /* allow other users full access */
 # endif /* VMS && !SECURE */
-#endif /* MICRO || WIN32*/
 
 	return fd;
 }