diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/ticker.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/ticker.dm
index 6a7331c55d8..c823bfc114c 100755
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/ticker.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/ticker.dm
@@ -244,8 +244,8 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(ticker)
 
 	if(!GLOB.Debug2)
 		if(!can_continue)
-			qdel(mode)
-			mode = null
+			log_game("[mode.name] failed pre_setup, cause: [mode.setup_error]")
+			QDEL_NULL(mode)
 			to_chat(world, "<B>Error setting up [GLOB.master_mode].</B> Reverting to pre-game lobby.")
 			SSjob.ResetOccupations()
 			return 0
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/changeling/changeling.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/changeling/changeling.dm
index 4420dc57d90..e3249505db9 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/changeling/changeling.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/changeling/changeling.dm
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ GLOBAL_VAR(changeling_team_objective_type) //If this is not null, we hand our th
 			changeling.restricted_roles = restricted_jobs
 		return 1
 	else
+		setup_error = "Not enough changeling candidates"
 		return 0
 
 /datum/game_mode/changeling/post_setup()
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/cult/cult.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/cult/cult.dm
index de9422d6f77..4e9a9cc6e77 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/cult/cult.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/cult/cult.dm
@@ -81,8 +81,11 @@
 		cultist.restricted_roles = restricted_jobs
 		log_game("[key_name(cultist)] has been selected as a cultist")
 
-
-	return (cultists_to_cult.len>=required_enemies)
+	if(cultists_to_cult.len>=required_enemies)
+		return TRUE
+	else
+		setup_error = "Not enough cultist candidates"
+		return FALSE
 
 
 /datum/game_mode/cult/post_setup()
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/devil/devil_game_mode.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/devil/devil_game_mode.dm
index 2e897539d87..0f2e8f78586 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/devil/devil_game_mode.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/devil/devil_game_mode.dm
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 		antag_candidates.Remove(devil)
 
 	if(devils.len < required_enemies)
+		setup_error = "Not enough devil candidates"
 		return 0
 	return 1
 
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/game_mode.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/game_mode.dm
index a7d7d6678fd..12791dd870a 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/game_mode.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/game_mode.dm
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 	var/allow_persistence_save = TRUE
 
 	var/gamemode_ready = FALSE //Is the gamemode all set up and ready to start checking for ending conditions.
+	var/setup_error		//What stopepd setting up the mode.
 
 /datum/game_mode/proc/announce() //Shows the gamemode's name and a fast description.
 	to_chat(world, "<b>The gamemode is: <span class='[announce_span]'>[name]</span>!</b>")
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/monkey/monkey.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/monkey/monkey.dm
index 8f7bedd4ddf..76460ffbb8f 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/monkey/monkey.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/monkey/monkey.dm
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 		antag_candidates -= carrier
 
 	if(!carriers.len)
+		setup_error = "No monkey candidates"
 		return FALSE
 	return TRUE
 
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/nuclear/nuclear.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/nuclear/nuclear.dm
index e42970a692e..4eb5dc1c6e3 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/nuclear/nuclear.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/nuclear/nuclear.dm
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 			log_game("[key_name(new_op)] has been selected as a nuclear operative")
 		return TRUE
 	else
+		setup_error = "Not enough nuke op candidates"
 		return FALSE
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/revolution/revolution.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/revolution/revolution.dm
index 592d930f7d1..e7ea46f5730 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/revolution/revolution.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/revolution/revolution.dm
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@
 		lenin.restricted_roles = restricted_jobs
 
 	if(headrev_candidates.len < required_enemies)
+		setup_error = "Not enough headrev candidates"
 		return FALSE
 
 	return TRUE
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/traitor/traitor.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/traitor/traitor.dm
index 4e2c6c19382..1437090ad7b 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/traitor/traitor.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/traitor/traitor.dm
@@ -56,7 +56,13 @@
 		log_game("[key_name(traitor)] has been selected as a [traitor_name]")
 		antag_candidates.Remove(traitor)
 
-	return !traitors_required || pre_traitors.len > 0
+	var/enough_tators = !traitors_required || pre_traitors.len > 0
+
+	if(!enough_tators)
+		setup_error = "Not enough traitor candidates"
+		return FALSE
+	else
+		return TRUE
 
 
 /datum/game_mode/traitor/post_setup()
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/wizard/wizard.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/wizard/wizard.dm
index 32d17fec2c0..d27f9775757 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/wizard/wizard.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/wizard/wizard.dm
@@ -25,11 +25,11 @@
 	wizard.special_role = ROLE_WIZARD
 	log_game("[key_name(wizard)] has been selected as a Wizard") //TODO: Move these to base antag datum
 	if(GLOB.wizardstart.len == 0)
-		to_chat(wizard.current, "<span class='boldannounce'>A starting location for you could not be found, please report this bug!</span>")
-		return 0
+		setup_error = "No wizard starting location found"
+		return FALSE
 	for(var/datum/mind/wiz in wizards)
 		wiz.current.forceMove(pick(GLOB.wizardstart))
-	return 1
+	return TRUE
 
 
 /datum/game_mode/wizard/post_setup()