diff --git a/lib-protocol/source/channel.cpp b/lib-protocol/source/channel.cpp
index 47f66f317..211b24c4d 100644
--- a/lib-protocol/source/channel.cpp
+++ b/lib-protocol/source/channel.cpp
@@ -170,7 +170,8 @@ task<void> Channel::Send(const Buffer &data) {
                 writ = std::move(error); });
     }, *(sctp->*Loot<SctpDataChannel$network_thread_>::pointer));
 
-    orc_assert((co_await *writ).ok());
+    const auto error(co_await *writ);
+    orc_assert_(error.ok(), error.message());
 }
 
 task<std::string> Description(const S<Base> &base, std::vector<std::string> ice) {
diff --git a/lib-protocol/source/layer.hpp b/lib-protocol/source/layer.hpp
index 38cf04d1b..ed0f463f6 100644
--- a/lib-protocol/source/layer.hpp
+++ b/lib-protocol/source/layer.hpp
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ auto Layer(Base &base, const Locator &locator, const std::function<bool (const s
 
             co_return co_await std::move(code)(std::make_unique<Type_<boost::beast::ssl_stream<Adapter>>>(std::move(stream)));
         } else orc_assert(false);
-    }, "connected to " << endpoint); } catch (...) {
+    }, "using endpoint " << endpoint); } catch (...) {
         // XXX: maybe I should merge the exceptions? that would be cool
         if (error == nullptr)
             error = std::current_exception();
diff --git a/lib-protocol/source/valve.hpp b/lib-protocol/source/valve.hpp
index 0918bbd97..bd7e59145 100644
--- a/lib-protocol/source/valve.hpp
+++ b/lib-protocol/source/valve.hpp
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class Valve {
 
   protected:
     void Stop() noexcept {
-        orc_insist(!shut_);
+        orc_insist_(!shut_, "double stop: " << type_);
         shut_();
     }
 
diff --git a/srv-daemon/source/croupier.hpp b/srv-daemon/source/croupier.hpp
index b663192e7..b1841c585 100644
--- a/srv-daemon/source/croupier.hpp
+++ b/srv-daemon/source/croupier.hpp
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ class Croupier {
 
     const S<Lottery1> &Find1(const Address &contract, const uint256_t &chain) {
         const auto lottery(lotteries1_.find(chain));
-        orc_assert(lottery != lotteries1_.end());
+        orc_assert_(lottery != lotteries1_.end(), "unsupported lottery chain " << chain);
         orc_assert(lottery->second->Contract() == contract);
         return lottery->second;
     }
diff --git a/srv-daemon/source/server.cpp b/srv-daemon/source/server.cpp
index b2e1f5a88..5dc4ddef9 100644
--- a/srv-daemon/source/server.cpp
+++ b/srv-daemon/source/server.cpp
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ void Server::Submit0(Pipe<Buffer> *pipe, const Socket &source, const Bytes32 &id
 
     const auto until(start + range);
     const auto now(Timestamp());
-    orc_assert(until > now);
+    orc_assert_(until > now, "expired ticket (by " << (now - until) << " seconds)");
 
     const auto &lottery(croupier_->Find0(contract, chain, recipient));
     const uint64_t gas(receipt.size() == 0 ? 84000 /*83267*/ : 103000);
@@ -275,8 +275,9 @@ void Server::Submit1(Pipe<Buffer> *pipe, const Socket &source, const Bytes32 &id
 
     orc_assert_(recipient == croupier_->Recipient(), recipient << " != " << croupier_->Recipient() << " in " << data);
 
+    const auto until(issued + expire);
     const auto now(Timestamp());
-    orc_assert(issued + expire > now);
+    orc_assert_(until > now, "expired ticket (by " << (now - until) << " seconds)");
 
     const auto &lottery(croupier_->Find1(contract, chain));
     const uint64_t gas(60000);