diff --git a/init/src/service.rs b/init/src/service.rs
index 895aee6281..05995cb314 100644
--- a/init/src/service.rs
+++ b/init/src/service.rs
@@ -47,7 +47,14 @@ impl Service {
         }
         command.envs(base_envs).envs(&self.envs);
 
-        let (mut read_pipe, write_pipe) = io::pipe().unwrap();
+        let (mut read_pipe, write_pipe) = io::pipe().unwrap_or_else(|e| {
+            eprintln!("INIT_DIAG: pipe() failed: {} (errno {})", e, e.raw_os_error().unwrap_or(-1));
+            match std::fs::OpenOptions::new().read(true).open("/scheme/pipe") {
+                Ok(_f) => eprintln!("INIT_DIAG: /scheme/pipe open ok"),
+                Err(e2) => eprintln!("INIT_DIAG: /scheme/pipe open failed: {} (errno {})", e2, e2.raw_os_error().unwrap_or(-1)),
+            }
+            panic!("pipe() failed in service.spawn for {}: {}", self.cmd, e)
+        });
         unsafe { pass_fd(&mut command, "INIT_NOTIFY", write_pipe.into()) };
 
         let mut child = match command.spawn() {