diff --git a/gst/elements/gstfilesink.c b/gst/elements/gstfilesink.c
index a3ced99540..88372f79ef 100644
--- a/gst/elements/gstfilesink.c
+++ b/gst/elements/gstfilesink.c
@@ -211,7 +211,8 @@ gst_filesink_open_file (GstFileSink *sink)
   /* open the file */
   if (!sink->filename)
   {
-    /* Out of files */
+    gst_element_error (GST_ELEMENT (sink),
+		       "Error opening file: no file given");
     return FALSE;
   }
 
diff --git a/plugins/elements/gstfilesink.c b/plugins/elements/gstfilesink.c
index a3ced99540..88372f79ef 100644
--- a/plugins/elements/gstfilesink.c
+++ b/plugins/elements/gstfilesink.c
@@ -211,7 +211,8 @@ gst_filesink_open_file (GstFileSink *sink)
   /* open the file */
   if (!sink->filename)
   {
-    /* Out of files */
+    gst_element_error (GST_ELEMENT (sink),
+		       "Error opening file: no file given");
     return FALSE;
   }