diff --git a/protocol/rtmp/conn.go b/protocol/rtmp/conn.go
index 56464578..c0077ebe 100644
--- a/protocol/rtmp/conn.go
+++ b/protocol/rtmp/conn.go
@@ -138,14 +138,14 @@ func Dial(url string, log Log, options ...func(*Conn) error) (*Conn, error) {
 	var err error
 	c.link.protocol, c.link.host, c.link.port, c.link.app, c.link.playpath, err = parseURL(url)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not parse url: %w",err)
 	}
 	c.link.url = rtmpProtocolStrings[c.link.protocol] + "://" + c.link.host + ":" + strconv.Itoa(int(c.link.port)) + "/" + c.link.app
 	c.link.protocol |= featureWrite
 
 	err = connect(&c)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not connect: %w",err)
 	}
 	return &c, nil
 }
@@ -159,11 +159,20 @@ func (c *Conn) Close() error {
 	c.log(DebugLevel, pkg+"Conn.Close")
 	if c.streamID > 0 {
 		if c.link.protocol&featureWrite != 0 {
-			sendFCUnpublish(c)
+			err := sendFCUnpublish(c)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("could not send fc unpublish: %w",err)
+			}
+		}
+		err := sendDeleteStream(c, float64(c.streamID))
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("could not send delete stream: %w",err)
 		}
-		sendDeleteStream(c, float64(c.streamID))
 	}
-	c.link.conn.Close()
+	err := c.link.conn.Close()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not close link conn: %w",err)
+	}
 	*c = Conn{}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -192,7 +201,7 @@ func (c *Conn) Write(data []byte) (int, error) {
 	copy(pkt.body, data[flvTagheaderSize:flvTagheaderSize+pkt.bodySize])
 	err := pkt.writeTo(c, false)
 	if err != nil {
-		return 0, err
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("could not write packet to connection: %w",err)
 	}
 	return len(data), nil
 }
@@ -205,18 +214,18 @@ func (c *Conn) Write(data []byte) (int, error) {
 func (c *Conn) read(buf []byte) (int, error) {
 	err := c.link.conn.SetReadDeadline(time.Now().Add(time.Second * time.Duration(c.link.timeout)))
 	if err != nil {
-		return 0, err
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("could not set read deadline: %w",err)
 	}
 	n, err := io.ReadFull(c.link.conn, buf)
 	if err != nil {
 		c.log(DebugLevel, pkg+"read failed", "error", err.Error())
-		return 0, err
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("could not read conn: %w",err)
 	}
 	c.nBytesIn += uint32(n)
 	if c.nBytesIn > (c.nBytesInSent + c.clientBW/10) {
 		err := sendBytesReceived(c)
 		if err != nil {
-			return n, err // NB: we still read n bytes, even though send bytes failed
+			return n, fmt.Errorf("could not send bytes received: %w",err) // NB: we still read n bytes, even though send bytes failed
 		}
 	}
 	return n, nil
@@ -227,12 +236,12 @@ func (c *Conn) write(buf []byte) (int, error) {
 	//ToDo: consider using a different timeout for writes than for reads
 	err := c.link.conn.SetWriteDeadline(time.Now().Add(time.Second * time.Duration(c.link.timeout)))
 	if err != nil {
-		return 0, err
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("could not set write deadline: %w",err)
 	}
 	n, err := c.link.conn.Write(buf)
 	if err != nil {
 		c.log(WarnLevel, pkg+"write failed", "error", err.Error())
-		return 0, err
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("could not write to conn: %w",err)
 	}
 	return n, nil
 }
diff --git a/protocol/rtmp/packet.go b/protocol/rtmp/packet.go
index dda53d35..3b5bf6ca 100644
--- a/protocol/rtmp/packet.go
+++ b/protocol/rtmp/packet.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ package rtmp
 
 import (
 	"encoding/binary"
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
 
 	"bitbucket.org/ausocean/av/protocol/rtmp/amf"
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ func (pkt *packet) readFrom(c *Conn) error {
 		if err == io.EOF {
 			c.log(WarnLevel, pkg+"EOF error; connection likely terminated")
 		}
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to read packet header 1st byte: %w", err)
 	}
 	pkt.headerType = (header[0] & 0xc0) >> 6
 	pkt.channel = int32(header[0] & 0x3f)
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ func (pkt *packet) readFrom(c *Conn) error {
 		_, err = c.read(header[:1])
 		if err != nil {
 			c.log(DebugLevel, pkg+"failed to read packet header 2nd byte", "error", err.Error())
-			return err
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to read packet header second byte: %w", err)
 		}
 		header = header[1:]
 		pkt.channel = int32(header[0]) + 64
@@ -125,7 +126,7 @@ func (pkt *packet) readFrom(c *Conn) error {
 		_, err = c.read(header[:2])
 		if err != nil {
 			c.log(DebugLevel, pkg+"failed to read packet header 3rd byte", "error", err.Error())
-			return err
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to read packet header 3rd byte: %w", err)
 		}
 		header = header[2:]
 		pkt.channel = int32(binary.BigEndian.Uint16(header[:2])) + 64
@@ -169,7 +170,7 @@ func (pkt *packet) readFrom(c *Conn) error {
 		_, err = c.read(header[:size])
 		if err != nil {
 			c.log(DebugLevel, pkg+"failed to read packet header", "error", err.Error())
-			return err
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to read packet header: %w", err)
 		}
 	}
 	hSize := len(hbuf) - len(header) + size
@@ -193,7 +194,7 @@ func (pkt *packet) readFrom(c *Conn) error {
 		_, err = c.read(header[size : size+4])
 		if err != nil {
 			c.log(DebugLevel, pkg+"failed to read extended timestamp", "error", err.Error())
-			return err
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to read extended timestamp: %w", err)
 		}
 		pkt.timestamp = amf.DecodeInt32(header[size : size+4])
 		hSize += 4
@@ -208,7 +209,7 @@ func (pkt *packet) readFrom(c *Conn) error {
 	_, err = c.read(pkt.body[:pkt.bodySize])
 	if err != nil {
 		c.log(DebugLevel, pkg+"failed to read packet body", "error", err.Error())
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to read packet body: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Keep the packet as a reference for other packets on this channel.
@@ -404,7 +405,7 @@ func (pkt *packet) writeTo(c *Conn, queue bool) error {
 			c.log(DebugLevel, pkg+"sending deferred packet separately", "size", len(c.deferred))
 			_, err := c.write(c.deferred)
 			if err != nil {
-				return err
+				return fmt.Errorf("could not write deferred packet: %w", err)
 			}
 			c.deferred = nil
 		}
@@ -424,7 +425,7 @@ func (pkt *packet) writeTo(c *Conn, queue bool) error {
 		}
 		_, err := c.write(bytes)
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			return fmt.Errorf("could not write combined packet: %w", err)
 		}
 		c.deferred = nil
 
diff --git a/protocol/rtmp/parseurl.go b/protocol/rtmp/parseurl.go
index 132c9acd..855d5ff4 100644
--- a/protocol/rtmp/parseurl.go
+++ b/protocol/rtmp/parseurl.go
@@ -34,17 +34,25 @@ LICENSE
 package rtmp
 
 import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"net/url"
 	"path"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 )
 
+// Errors.
+var (
+	errInvalidPath     = errors.New("invalid url path")
+	errInvalidElements = errors.New("invalid url elements")
+)
+
 // parseURL parses an RTMP URL (ok, technically it is lexing).
 func parseURL(addr string) (protocol int32, host string, port uint16, app, playpath string, err error) {
 	u, err := url.Parse(addr)
 	if err != nil {
-		return protocol, host, port, app, playpath, err
+		return protocol, host, port, app, playpath, fmt.Errorf("could not parse to url value: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	switch u.Scheme {
@@ -63,24 +71,24 @@ func parseURL(addr string) (protocol int32, host string, port uint16, app, playp
 	case "rtmpts":
 		protocol = protoRTMPTS
 	default:
-		return protocol, host, port, app, playpath, errUnknownScheme
+		return protocol, host, port, app, playpath, fmt.Errorf("unknown scheme: %s", u.Scheme)
 	}
 
 	host = u.Host
 	if p := u.Port(); p != "" {
 		pi, err := strconv.Atoi(p)
 		if err != nil {
-			return protocol, host, port, app, playpath, err
+			return protocol, host, port, app, playpath, fmt.Errorf("could convert port to integer: %w", err)
 		}
 		port = uint16(pi)
 	}
 
 	if len(u.Path) < 1 || !path.IsAbs(u.Path) {
-		return protocol, host, port, app, playpath, errInvalidURL
+		return protocol, host, port, app, playpath, errInvalidPath
 	}
 	elems := strings.SplitN(u.Path[1:], "/", 3)
 	if len(elems) < 2 || elems[0] == "" || elems[1] == "" {
-		return protocol, host, port, app, playpath, errInvalidURL
+		return protocol, host, port, app, playpath, errInvalidElements
 	}
 	app = elems[0]
 	playpath = path.Join(elems[1:]...)
@@ -106,7 +114,7 @@ func parseURL(addr string) (protocol int32, host string, port uint16, app, playp
 	switch {
 	case port != 0:
 	case (protocol & featureSSL) != 0:
-		return protocol, host, port, app, playpath, errUnimplemented // port = 433
+		return protocol, host, port, app, playpath, errors.New("ssl not implemented")
 	case (protocol & featureHTTP) != 0:
 		port = 80
 	default:
diff --git a/protocol/rtmp/rtmp.go b/protocol/rtmp/rtmp.go
index dcaefe42..e51f6eea 100644
--- a/protocol/rtmp/rtmp.go
+++ b/protocol/rtmp/rtmp.go
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"encoding/binary"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"math/rand"
 	"net"
 	"strconv"
@@ -164,14 +165,15 @@ var (
 
 // connect establishes an RTMP connection.
 func connect(c *Conn) error {
-	addr, err := net.ResolveTCPAddr("tcp4", c.link.host+":"+strconv.Itoa(int(c.link.port)))
+	addrStr := c.link.host + ":" + strconv.Itoa(int(c.link.port))
+	addr, err := net.ResolveTCPAddr("tcp4", addrStr)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not resolve tcp address (%s):%w", addrStr, err)
 	}
 	c.link.conn, err = net.DialTCP("tcp4", nil, addr)
 	if err != nil {
 		c.log(WarnLevel, pkg+"dial failed", "error", err.Error())
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not dial tcp: %w", err)
 	}
 	c.log(DebugLevel, pkg+"connected")
 
@@ -184,13 +186,13 @@ func connect(c *Conn) error {
 	err = handshake(c)
 	if err != nil {
 		c.log(WarnLevel, pkg+"handshake failed", "error", err.Error())
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not handshake: %w", err)
 	}
 	c.log(DebugLevel, pkg+"handshaked")
 	err = sendConnectPacket(c)
 	if err != nil {
 		c.log(WarnLevel, pkg+"sendConnect failed", "error", err.Error())
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not send connect packet: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	c.log(DebugLevel, pkg+"negotiating")
@@ -199,7 +201,7 @@ func connect(c *Conn) error {
 		pkt := packet{buf: buf[:]}
 		err = pkt.readFrom(c)
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			return fmt.Errorf("could not read from packet: %w", err)
 		}
 
 		switch pkt.packetType {
@@ -208,7 +210,7 @@ func connect(c *Conn) error {
 		default:
 			err = handlePacket(c, &pkt)
 			if err != nil {
-				return err
+				return fmt.Errorf("could not handle packet: %w", err)
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -248,7 +250,7 @@ func handlePacket(c *Conn, pkt *packet) error {
 		err := handleInvoke(c, pkt.body[:pkt.bodySize])
 		if err != nil {
 			c.log(WarnLevel, pkg+"unexpected error from handleInvoke", "error", err.Error())
-			return err
+			return fmt.Errorf("could not handle invoke: %w", err)
 		}
 
 	case packetTypeControl, packetTypeAudio, packetTypeVideo, packetTypeFlashVideo, packetTypeFlexMessage, packetTypeInfo:
@@ -273,12 +275,12 @@ func sendConnectPacket(c *Conn) error {
 
 	enc, err := amf.EncodeString(enc, avConnect)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode string: %w", err)
 	}
 	c.numInvokes += 1
 	enc, err = amf.EncodeNumber(enc, float64(c.numInvokes))
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode number of invokes: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// required link info
@@ -289,24 +291,29 @@ func sendConnectPacket(c *Conn) error {
 	}
 	enc, err = amf.Encode(&info, enc)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode info: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// optional link auth info
 	if c.link.auth != "" {
 		enc, err = amf.EncodeBoolean(enc, c.link.flags&linkAuth != 0)
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			return fmt.Errorf("could not encode link auth bool: %w", err)
 		}
 		enc, err = amf.EncodeString(enc, c.link.auth)
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			return fmt.Errorf("could not encode link auth string: %w", err)
 		}
 	}
 
 	pkt.bodySize = uint32((len(pbuf) - fullHeaderSize) - len(enc))
 
-	return pkt.writeTo(c, true) // response expected
+	err = pkt.writeTo(c, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not write packet: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 func sendCreateStream(c *Conn) error {
@@ -322,19 +329,23 @@ func sendCreateStream(c *Conn) error {
 
 	enc, err := amf.EncodeString(enc, avCreatestream)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode av create stream token: %w", err)
 	}
 	c.numInvokes++
 	enc, err = amf.EncodeNumber(enc, float64(c.numInvokes))
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode number of invokes: %w", err)
 	}
 	enc[0] = amf.TypeNull
 	enc = enc[1:]
 
 	pkt.bodySize = uint32((len(pbuf) - fullHeaderSize) - len(enc))
 
-	return pkt.writeTo(c, true) // response expected
+	err = pkt.writeTo(c, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not write packet: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 func sendReleaseStream(c *Conn) error {
@@ -350,22 +361,27 @@ func sendReleaseStream(c *Conn) error {
 
 	enc, err := amf.EncodeString(enc, avReleasestream)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode av release stream token: %w", err)
 	}
 	c.numInvokes++
 	enc, err = amf.EncodeNumber(enc, float64(c.numInvokes))
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode number of invokes: %w", err)
 	}
 	enc[0] = amf.TypeNull
 	enc = enc[1:]
 	enc, err = amf.EncodeString(enc, c.link.playpath)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode playpath: %w", err)
 	}
 	pkt.bodySize = uint32((len(pbuf) - fullHeaderSize) - len(enc))
 
-	return pkt.writeTo(c, false)
+	err = pkt.writeTo(c, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not write packet: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 func sendFCPublish(c *Conn) error {
@@ -381,23 +397,28 @@ func sendFCPublish(c *Conn) error {
 
 	enc, err := amf.EncodeString(enc, avFCPublish)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode av fc publish token: %w", err)
 	}
 	c.numInvokes++
 	enc, err = amf.EncodeNumber(enc, float64(c.numInvokes))
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode number of invokes: %w", err)
 	}
 	enc[0] = amf.TypeNull
 	enc = enc[1:]
 	enc, err = amf.EncodeString(enc, c.link.playpath)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode playpath: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	pkt.bodySize = uint32((len(pbuf) - fullHeaderSize) - len(enc))
 
-	return pkt.writeTo(c, false)
+	err = pkt.writeTo(c, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not write packet: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 func sendFCUnpublish(c *Conn) error {
@@ -413,23 +434,28 @@ func sendFCUnpublish(c *Conn) error {
 
 	enc, err := amf.EncodeString(enc, avFCUnpublish)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode av fc unpublish token: %w", err)
 	}
 	c.numInvokes++
 	enc, err = amf.EncodeNumber(enc, float64(c.numInvokes))
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode number of invokes: %w", err)
 	}
 	enc[0] = amf.TypeNull
 	enc = enc[1:]
 	enc, err = amf.EncodeString(enc, c.link.playpath)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode link playpath: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	pkt.bodySize = uint32((len(pbuf) - fullHeaderSize) - len(enc))
 
-	return pkt.writeTo(c, false)
+	err = pkt.writeTo(c, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not write packet: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 func sendPublish(c *Conn) error {
@@ -445,27 +471,32 @@ func sendPublish(c *Conn) error {
 
 	enc, err := amf.EncodeString(enc, avPublish)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode av publish token: %w", err)
 	}
 	c.numInvokes++
 	enc, err = amf.EncodeNumber(enc, float64(c.numInvokes))
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode number of invokes: %w", err)
 	}
 	enc[0] = amf.TypeNull
 	enc = enc[1:]
 	enc, err = amf.EncodeString(enc, c.link.playpath)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode link playpath: %w", err)
 	}
 	enc, err = amf.EncodeString(enc, avLive)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode av live token: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	pkt.bodySize = uint32((len(pbuf) - fullHeaderSize) - len(enc))
 
-	return pkt.writeTo(c, true) // response expected
+	err = pkt.writeTo(c, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not write packet: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 func sendDeleteStream(c *Conn, streamID float64) error {
@@ -481,22 +512,27 @@ func sendDeleteStream(c *Conn, streamID float64) error {
 
 	enc, err := amf.EncodeString(enc, avDeletestream)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode av delete stream token: %w", err)
 	}
 	c.numInvokes++
 	enc, err = amf.EncodeNumber(enc, float64(c.numInvokes))
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode number of invokes: %w", err)
 	}
 	enc[0] = amf.TypeNull
 	enc = enc[1:]
 	enc, err = amf.EncodeNumber(enc, streamID)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode stream id: %w", err)
 	}
 	pkt.bodySize = uint32((len(pbuf) - fullHeaderSize) - len(enc))
 
-	return pkt.writeTo(c, false)
+	err = pkt.writeTo(c, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not write packet: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 // sendBytesReceived tells the server how many bytes the client has received.
@@ -515,11 +551,16 @@ func sendBytesReceived(c *Conn) error {
 
 	enc, err := amf.EncodeInt32(enc, c.nBytesIn)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode number of bytes in: %w", err)
 	}
 	pkt.bodySize = 4
 
-	return pkt.writeTo(c, false)
+	err = pkt.writeTo(c, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not write packet: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 func sendCheckBW(c *Conn) error {
@@ -535,19 +576,24 @@ func sendCheckBW(c *Conn) error {
 
 	enc, err := amf.EncodeString(enc, av_checkbw)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode av check bw token: %w", err)
 	}
 	c.numInvokes++
 	enc, err = amf.EncodeNumber(enc, float64(c.numInvokes))
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not encode number of invokes: %w", err)
 	}
 	enc[0] = amf.TypeNull
 	enc = enc[1:]
 
 	pkt.bodySize = uint32((len(pbuf) - fullHeaderSize) - len(enc))
 
-	return pkt.writeTo(c, false)
+	err = pkt.writeTo(c, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not write packet: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 func eraseMethod(m []method, i int) []method {
@@ -565,16 +611,16 @@ func handleInvoke(c *Conn, body []byte) error {
 	var obj amf.Object
 	_, err := amf.Decode(&obj, body, false)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not decode: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	meth, err := obj.StringProperty("", 0)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not get value of string property meth: %w", err)
 	}
 	txn, err := obj.NumberProperty("", 1)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not get value of number property txn: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	c.log(DebugLevel, pkg+"invoking method "+meth)
@@ -601,21 +647,21 @@ func handleInvoke(c *Conn, body []byte) error {
 		case avConnect:
 			err := sendReleaseStream(c)
 			if err != nil {
-				return err
+				return fmt.Errorf("could not send release stream: %w", err)
 			}
 			err = sendFCPublish(c)
 			if err != nil {
-				return err
+				return fmt.Errorf("could not send fc publish: %w", err)
 			}
 			err = sendCreateStream(c)
 			if err != nil {
-				return err
+				return fmt.Errorf("could not send create stream: %w", err)
 			}
 
 		case avCreatestream:
 			n, err := obj.NumberProperty("", 3)
 			if err != nil {
-				return err
+				return fmt.Errorf("could not get value for stream id number property: %w",err)
 			}
 			c.streamID = uint32(n)
 			err = sendPublish(c)
@@ -630,27 +676,27 @@ func handleInvoke(c *Conn, body []byte) error {
 	case avOnBWDone:
 		err := sendCheckBW(c)
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			return fmt.Errorf("could not send check bw: %w", err)
 		}
 
 	case avOnStatus:
 		obj2, err := obj.ObjectProperty("", 3)
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			return fmt.Errorf("could not get object property value for obj2: %w", err)
 		}
 		code, err := obj2.StringProperty(avCode, -1)
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			return fmt.Errorf("could not get string property value for code: %w", err)
 		}
 		level, err := obj2.StringProperty(avLevel, -1)
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			return fmt.Errorf("could not get string property value for level: %w", err)
 		}
 		c.log(DebugLevel, pkg+"onStatus", "code", code, "level", level)
 
 		if code != avNetStreamPublish_Start {
 			c.log(ErrorLevel, pkg+"unexpected response "+code)
-			return errUnimplemented
+			return fmt.Errorf("unimplemented code: %v", code)
 		}
 		c.log(DebugLevel, pkg+"playing")
 		c.isPlaying = true
@@ -681,14 +727,14 @@ func handshake(c *Conn) error {
 
 	_, err := c.write(clientbuf[:])
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not write handshake: %w", err)
 	}
 	c.log(DebugLevel, pkg+"handshake sent")
 
 	var typ [1]byte
 	_, err = c.read(typ[:])
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not read handshake: %w", err)
 	}
 	c.log(DebugLevel, pkg+"handshake received")
 
@@ -697,7 +743,7 @@ func handshake(c *Conn) error {
 	}
 	_, err = c.read(serversig[:])
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not read server signal: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// decode server response
@@ -707,12 +753,12 @@ func handshake(c *Conn) error {
 	// 2nd part of handshake
 	_, err = c.write(serversig[:])
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not write part 2 of handshake: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	_, err = c.read(serversig[:])
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not read part 2 of handshake: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	if !bytes.Equal(serversig[:signatureSize], clientbuf[1:signatureSize+1]) {