diff --git a/docker-exec-via-sock.sh b/docker-exec-via-sock.sh
index 833d124..ad631f4 100644
--- a/docker-exec-via-sock.sh
+++ b/docker-exec-via-sock.sh
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@ docker_exec_create() {
   docker_exec_create_id=$(printf '%s' "$DOCKER_LAST_RESPONSE" | jq -r '.Id // empty')
 
   if [ -z "$docker_exec_create_id" ]; then
-    log "failed to create $docker_exec_create_desc exec for $CONTAINER_NAME"
-    log "docker response: $DOCKER_LAST_RESPONSE"
+    error_message=$(printf '%s' "$DOCKER_LAST_RESPONSE" | jq -r '.message // "unknown error"')
+    log "failed to create $docker_exec_create_desc exec for $CONTAINER_NAME: $error_message"
     return 1
   fi
 
@@ -189,13 +189,13 @@ fi
 
 log "starting exec $exec_id"
 
-if ! start_output=$(docker_exec_start "$exec_id" "exec"); then
-  exit 1
-fi
+start_output=$(docker_exec_start "$exec_id" "exec") || true
 
 if ! exit_code=$(docker_exec_exit_code "$exec_id"); then
-  log "could not determine exec exit code"
-  log "docker inspect response: $DOCKER_LAST_RESPONSE"
+  error_message=$(printf '%s' "$DOCKER_LAST_RESPONSE" | jq -r '.message // "unknown error"')
+  log "could not determine exec exit code: $error_message"
+  log "this often happens if the command inside the container fails immediately (e.g. command not found)."
+  log "initial command output from container: $start_output"
   exit 1
 fi