diff --git a/cmd/talosctl/cmd/mgmt/cluster/create.go b/cmd/talosctl/cmd/mgmt/cluster/create.go
index ee9f7efd5..cb879016f 100644
--- a/cmd/talosctl/cmd/mgmt/cluster/create.go
+++ b/cmd/talosctl/cmd/mgmt/cluster/create.go
@@ -698,7 +698,7 @@ func postCreate(ctx context.Context, clusterAccess *access.Adapter) error {
 func saveConfig(talosConfigObj *clientconfig.Config) (err error) {
 	c, err := clientconfig.Open(talosconfig)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("error opening talos config: %s", err)
 	}
 
 	renames := c.Merge(talosConfigObj)