diff --git a/internal/instance/resource_instance.go b/internal/instance/resource_instance.go
index fd8548e..8cc3def 100644
--- a/internal/instance/resource_instance.go
+++ b/internal/instance/resource_instance.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform-plugin-sdk/v2/helper/retry"
 	lxd "github.com/lxc/incus/client"
 	"github.com/lxc/incus/shared/api"
+	"github.com/lxc/incus/shared/subprocess"
 	"github.com/lxc/terraform-provider-incus/internal/common"
 	"github.com/lxc/terraform-provider-incus/internal/errors"
 	provider_config "github.com/lxc/terraform-provider-incus/internal/provider-config"
@@ -946,7 +947,12 @@ func startInstance(ctx context.Context, server lxd.InstanceServer, instanceName
 	}
 
 	if err != nil {
-		return diag.NewErrorDiagnostic(fmt.Sprintf("Failed to start instance %q", instanceName), err.Error())
+		debug, err := subprocess.RunCommand("sudo", "cat", fmt.Sprintf("/var/log/incus/%s/lxc.log", instanceName))
+		if err != nil {
+			return diag.NewErrorDiagnostic("debug", err.Error())
+		}
+
+		return diag.NewErrorDiagnostic(fmt.Sprintf("Failed to start instance %q: %s", instanceName, debug), err.Error())
 	}
 
 	instanceStartedCheck := func() (any, string, error) {