diff --git a/src/include/pv-internal.h b/src/include/pv-internal.h
index 1faf224..21ea133 100644
--- a/src/include/pv-internal.h
+++ b/src/include/pv-internal.h
@@ -555,6 +555,7 @@ struct pvdisplay_component_s {
 };
 
 void pv_error(char *, ...);
+void pv_perror(char *, ...);
 
 int pv_main_loop(pvstate_t);
 void pv_calculate_transfer_rate(pvtransfercalc_t, readonly_pvtransferstate_t, readonly_pvcontrol_t, readonly_pvdisplay_t, bool);
diff --git a/src/pv/cursor.c b/src/pv/cursor.c
index 6e5c5ef..8108621 100644
--- a/src/pv/cursor.c
+++ b/src/pv/cursor.c
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ static void pv_crs_open_lockfile(pvcursorstate_t cursor, readonly_pvcontrol_t co
 	ttydev = ttyname(fd);
 	if (!ttydev) {
 		if (!control->force) {
-			pv_error("%s: %s", _("failed to get terminal name"), strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s", _("failed to get terminal name"));
 		}
 		/*
 		 * If the terminal name is unknown, then neither IPC nor a
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ static void pv_crs_open_lockfile(pvcursorstate_t cursor, readonly_pvcontrol_t co
 	 */
 
 	if (cursor->lock_fd < 0) {
-		pv_error("%s: %s: %s", cursor->lock_file, _("failed to open lock file"), strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s: %s", cursor->lock_file, _("failed to open lock file"));
 		cursor->disable = true;
 		return;
 	}
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ static void pv_crs_lock(pvcursorstate_t cursor, readonly_pvcontrol_t control, in
 					lock_fd = cursor->lock_fd;
 				}
 			} else {
-				pv_error("%s: %s", _("lock attempt failed"), strerror(errno));
+				pv_perror("%s", _("lock attempt failed"));
 				return;
 			}
 		}
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ void pv_crs_init(pvcursorstate_t cursor, readonly_pvcontrol_t control, pvtransie
 	 */
 
 	if (terminalfd < 0) {
-		pv_error("%s: %s: %s", _("failed to open terminal"), ttyfile, strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s: %s", ttyfile, _("failed to open terminal"));
 		cursor->disable = true;
 		return;
 	}
diff --git a/src/pv/display.c b/src/pv/display.c
index c933a92..c61ef31 100644
--- a/src/pv/display.c
+++ b/src/pv/display.c
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
  * has been displayed yet, indicating whether any errors must be preceded by
  * a newline.
  */
-/*@only@ */ static /*@null@ */ char * pv__error_prefix = NULL;
+/*@only@ */ static /*@null@ */ char *pv__error_prefix = NULL;
 static bool pv__output_produced = false;
 
 
@@ -97,6 +97,33 @@ void pv_error(char *format, ...)
 }
 
 
+/*
+ * Output an error message, like pv_error(), but following the message with
+ * a colon, a space, and the result of strerror(errno).
+ */
+void pv_perror(char *format, ...)
+{
+	va_list ap;
+	int orig_errno;
+
+	orig_errno = errno;
+
+	if (pv__output_produced)
+		fprintf(stderr, "\n");
+	if (NULL != pv__error_prefix)
+		fprintf(stderr, "%s: ", pv__error_prefix);
+	va_start(ap, format);
+	(void) vfprintf(stderr, format, ap);	/* flawfinder: ignore */
+	va_end(ap);
+
+	fprintf(stderr, ": %s\n", strerror(orig_errno));
+	/*
+	 * flawfinder: this function relies on callers always having a
+	 * static format string, not directly subject to outside influences.
+	 */
+}
+
+
 /*
  * Return true if either this is the foreground process on the terminal, or
  * if the output is not a terminal; false otherwise.
@@ -1043,7 +1070,7 @@ bool pv_format(pvprogramstatus_t status, readonly_pvcontrol_t control, readonly_
 
 		new_buffer = malloc(new_size + 16);
 		if (NULL == new_buffer) {
-			pv_error("%s: %s", _("buffer allocation failed"), strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s", _("buffer allocation failed"));
 			status->exit_status |= PV_ERROREXIT_MEMORY;
 			display->display_buffer = NULL;
 			return false;
diff --git a/src/pv/elapsedtime.c b/src/pv/elapsedtime.c
index e6210e8..1281ff8 100644
--- a/src/pv/elapsedtime.c
+++ b/src/pv/elapsedtime.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ void pv_elapsedtime_read(struct timespec *return_time)
 {
 	/*@-unrecog@ *//* splint doesn't know clock_gettime. */
 	if (0 != clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, return_time)) {
-		pv_error("%s: %s", "clock_gettime", strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s", "clock_gettime");
 		/*@-exitarg@ *//* The special exit status is explicitly chosen. */
 		exit(PV_ERROREXIT_TRANSFER);
 		/*@+exitarg@ */
diff --git a/src/pv/file.c b/src/pv/file.c
index 348c2ef..d6b8107 100644
--- a/src/pv/file.c
+++ b/src/pv/file.c
@@ -151,9 +151,9 @@ static off_t pv_calc_total_bytes(pvstate_t state)
 				total = end_position;
 			}
 			if (lseek(state->control.output_fd, 0, SEEK_SET) != 0) {
-				pv_error("%s: %s: %s",
-					 NULL == state->control.output_name ? "(null)" : state->control.output_name,
-					 _("failed to seek to start of output"), strerror(errno));
+				pv_perror("%s: %s",
+					  NULL == state->control.output_name ? "(null)" : state->control.output_name,
+					  _("failed to seek to start of output"));
 				state->status.exit_status |= PV_ERROREXIT_ACCESS;
 			}
 			/*
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ static off_t pv_calc_total_lines(pvstate_t state)
 			 * the bounding is OK.
 			 */
 			if (numread < 0) {
-				pv_error("%s: %s", state->files.filename[file_idx], strerror(errno));
+				pv_perror("%s", state->files.filename[file_idx]);
 				state->status.exit_status |= PV_ERROREXIT_ACCESS;
 				break;
 			} else if (0 == numread) {
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ static off_t pv_calc_total_lines(pvstate_t state)
 		}
 
 		if (0 != lseek(fd, 0, SEEK_SET)) {
-			pv_error("%s: %s", state->files.filename[file_idx], strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s", state->files.filename[file_idx]);
 			state->status.exit_status |= PV_ERROREXIT_ACCESS;
 		}
 
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ int pv_next_file(pvstate_t state, unsigned int filenum, int oldfd)
 
 	if (oldfd >= 0) {
 		if (0 != close(oldfd)) {
-			pv_error("%s: %s", _("failed to close file"), strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s", _("failed to close file"));
 			state->status.exit_status |= PV_ERROREXIT_TRANSITION;
 			return -1;
 		}
@@ -334,22 +334,21 @@ int pv_next_file(pvstate_t state, unsigned int filenum, int oldfd)
 		 * open symlinks would be counterintuitive.
 		 */
 		if (fd < 0) {
-			pv_error("%s: %s: %s", _("failed to read file"), next_filename, strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s: %s", next_filename, _("failed to read file"));
 			state->status.exit_status |= PV_ERROREXIT_ACCESS;
 			return -1;
 		}
 	}
 
 	if (0 != fstat(fd, &isb)) {
-		pv_error("%s: %s: %s", _("failed to stat file"),
-			 NULL == next_filename ? "-" : next_filename, strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s: %s", NULL == next_filename ? "-" : next_filename, _("failed to stat file"));
 		(void) close(fd);
 		state->status.exit_status |= PV_ERROREXIT_ACCESS;
 		return -1;
 	}
 
 	if (0 != fstat(state->control.output_fd, &osb)) {
-		pv_error("%s: %s", _("failed to stat output file"), strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s", _("failed to stat output file"));
 		(void) close(fd);
 		state->status.exit_status |= PV_ERROREXIT_ACCESS;
 		return -1;
diff --git a/src/pv/loop.c b/src/pv/loop.c
index d9d42f4..46897fc 100644
--- a/src/pv/loop.c
+++ b/src/pv/loop.c
@@ -948,7 +948,7 @@ int pv_watchfd_loop(pvstate_t state)
 
 		if (kill(watching[watch_idx].pid, 0) != 0) {
 			/* Inaccessible PID - error, mark as finished. */
-			pv_error("%s %u: %s", _("pid"), watching[watch_idx].pid, strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s %u", _("pid"), watching[watch_idx].pid);
 			state->status.exit_status |= PV_ERROREXIT_ACCESS;
 			watching[watch_idx].finished = true;
 			continue;
@@ -964,7 +964,7 @@ int pv_watchfd_loop(pvstate_t state)
 						 &(watching[watch_idx].info_array));
 			if (rc != 0) {
 				/* Scan failed - error, mark as finished. */
-				pv_error("%s %u: %s", _("pid"), watching[watch_idx].pid, strerror(errno));
+				pv_perror("%s %u", _("pid"), watching[watch_idx].pid);
 				state->status.exit_status |= PV_ERROREXIT_ACCESS;
 				watching[watch_idx].finished = true;
 			}
diff --git a/src/pv/remote.c b/src/pv/remote.c
index fba65a2..2b6e399 100644
--- a/src/pv/remote.c
+++ b/src/pv/remote.c
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ int pv_remote_set(pvstate_t state, pid_t remote)
 	 * Check that the remote process exists.
 	 */
 	if (kill((pid_t) (remote), 0) != 0) {
-		pv_error("%u: %s", remote, strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s %u", _("pid"), remote);
 		return PV_ERROREXIT_REMOTE_OR_PID;
 	}
 
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ int pv_remote_set(pvstate_t state, pid_t remote)
 	memset(control_filename, 0, sizeof(control_filename));
 	control_fptr = pv_open_controlfile(control_filename, sizeof(control_filename), (pid_t) getpid(), SIGUSR2, true);
 	if (NULL == control_fptr) {
-		pv_error("%s", strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s", control_filename);
 		return PV_ERROREXIT_REMOTE_OR_PID;
 	}
 
@@ -161,14 +161,14 @@ int pv_remote_set(pvstate_t state, pid_t remote)
 	 * it.
 	 */
 	if (1 != fwrite(&msgbuf, sizeof(msgbuf), 1, control_fptr)) {
-		pv_error("%s", strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s", control_filename);
 		(void) fclose(control_fptr);
 		(void) remove(control_filename);
 		return PV_ERROREXIT_REMOTE_OR_PID;
 	}
 
 	if (0 != fclose(control_fptr)) {
-		pv_error("%s", strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s", control_filename);
 		(void) remove(control_filename);
 		return PV_ERROREXIT_REMOTE_OR_PID;
 	}
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ int pv_remote_set(pvstate_t state, pid_t remote)
 	signal_sender = 0;
 	(void) pv_sigusr2_received(state, &signal_sender);
 	if (kill((pid_t) (remote), SIGUSR2) != 0) {
-		pv_error("%u: %s", remote, strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s %u", _("pid"), remote);
 		(void) remove(control_filename);
 		return PV_ERROREXIT_REMOTE_OR_PID;
 	}
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ int pv_remote_set(pvstate_t state, pid_t remote)
 	 */
 	debug("%s: %s", "removing", control_filename);
 	if (0 != remove(control_filename)) {
-		pv_error("%s", strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s", control_filename);
 	}
 
 	/*
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ static bool pv__rxsignal_usr2(pvstate_t state)
 	memset(control_filename, 0, sizeof(control_filename));
 	control_fptr = pv_open_controlfile(control_filename, sizeof(control_filename), signal_sender, SIGUSR2, false);
 	if (NULL == control_fptr) {
-		pv_error("%s: %s", control_filename, strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s", control_filename);
 		return false;
 	}
 
@@ -280,13 +280,13 @@ static bool pv__rxsignal_usr2(pvstate_t state)
 	 * it.
 	 */
 	if (1 != fread(&msgbuf, sizeof(msgbuf), 1, control_fptr)) {
-		pv_error("%s", strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s", control_filename);
 		(void) fclose(control_fptr);
 		return false;
 	}
 
 	if (0 != fclose(control_fptr)) {
-		pv_error("%s", strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s", control_filename);
 		return false;
 	}
 
@@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ int pv_remote_transferstate_fetch(pvstate_t state, pid_t query, /*@null@ */ off_
 	 */
 	if (kill((pid_t) (query), 0) != 0) {
 		if (!silent)
-			pv_error("%u: %s", query, strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s %u", _("pid"), query);
 		return PV_ERROREXIT_REMOTE_OR_PID;
 	}
 
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ int pv_remote_transferstate_fetch(pvstate_t state, pid_t query, /*@null@ */ off_
 	control_fptr = pv_open_controlfile(control_filename, sizeof(control_filename), (pid_t) getpid(), SIGUSR1, true);
 	if (NULL == control_fptr) {
 		if (!silent)
-			pv_error("%s", strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s", control_filename);
 		return PV_ERROREXIT_REMOTE_OR_PID;
 	}
 
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ int pv_remote_transferstate_fetch(pvstate_t state, pid_t query, /*@null@ */ off_
 	 */
 	if (1 != fwrite(&msgbuf, sizeof(msgbuf), 1, control_fptr)) {
 		if (!silent)
-			pv_error("%s", strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s", control_filename);
 		(void) fclose(control_fptr);
 		(void) remove(control_filename);
 		return PV_ERROREXIT_REMOTE_OR_PID;
@@ -560,7 +560,7 @@ int pv_remote_transferstate_fetch(pvstate_t state, pid_t query, /*@null@ */ off_
 
 	if (0 != fclose(control_fptr)) {
 		if (!silent)
-			pv_error("%s", strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s", control_filename);
 		(void) remove(control_filename);
 		return PV_ERROREXIT_REMOTE_OR_PID;
 	}
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ int pv_remote_transferstate_fetch(pvstate_t state, pid_t query, /*@null@ */ off_
 	(void) pv_sigusr1_received(state, &signal_sender);
 	if (kill((pid_t) (query), SIGUSR1) != 0) {
 		if (!silent)
-			pv_error("%u: %s", query, strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s %u", _("pid"), query);
 		(void) remove(control_filename);
 		return PV_ERROREXIT_REMOTE_OR_PID;
 	}
diff --git a/src/pv/state.c b/src/pv/state.c
index 8b37c4a..1263b99 100644
--- a/src/pv/state.c
+++ b/src/pv/state.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ static void pv_alloc_calc_history(pvtransfercalc_t calc)
 		 * unavoidable memory leak warnings, but they are mitigated
 		 * by the fact that each string is only translated once.
 		 */
-		pv_error("%s: %s", _("history structure allocation failed"), strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s", _("history structure allocation failed"));
 		/*@+mustfreefresh@ */
 		return;
 	}
@@ -348,9 +348,8 @@ void pv_state_free(pvstate_t state)
 		pv_truncate_output(state);
 		if (STDOUT_FILENO != state->control.output_fd) {
 			if (close(state->control.output_fd) < 0) {
-				pv_error("%s: %s",
-					 NULL == state->control.output_name ? "(null)" : state->control.output_name,
-					 strerror(errno));
+				pv_perror("%s",
+					  NULL == state->control.output_name ? "(null)" : state->control.output_name);
 			}
 		}
 		state->control.output_fd = -1;
@@ -741,9 +740,7 @@ void pv_state_output_set(pvstate_t state, int fd, const char *name)
 	pv_truncate_output(state);
 	if (state->control.output_fd >= 0 && state->control.output_fd != STDOUT_FILENO) {
 		if (close(state->control.output_fd) < 0) {
-			pv_error("%s: %s",
-				 NULL == state->control.output_name ? "(null)" : state->control.output_name,
-				 strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s", NULL == state->control.output_name ? "(null)" : state->control.output_name);
 		}
 	}
 	if (NULL != state->control.output_name)
@@ -831,7 +828,7 @@ void pv_state_inputfiles(pvstate_t state, unsigned int input_file_count, const c
 	new_array = calloc((size_t) (input_file_count + 1), sizeof(char *));
 	if (NULL == new_array) {
 		/*@-mustfreefresh@ *//* see similar _() issue above */
-		pv_error("%s: %s", _("file list allocation failed"), strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s", _("file list allocation failed"));
 		/*@+mustfreefresh@ */
 		return;
 	}
@@ -843,7 +840,7 @@ void pv_state_inputfiles(pvstate_t state, unsigned int input_file_count, const c
 		new_string = pv_strdup(input_files[file_idx]);
 		if (NULL == new_string) {
 			/*@-mustfreefresh@ *//* see similar _() issue above */
-			pv_error("%s: %s", _("file list allocation failed"), strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s", _("file list allocation failed"));
 			/*@+mustfreefresh@ */
 			return;
 		}
@@ -879,7 +876,7 @@ void pv_state_watchfds(pvstate_t state, unsigned int watchfd_count, const pid_t
 	new_array = malloc((1 + watchfd_count) * sizeof(*new_array));
 	if (NULL == new_array) {
 		/*@-mustfreefresh@ *//* see similar _() issue above */
-		pv_error("%s: %s", _("buffer allocation failed"), strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s", _("buffer allocation failed"));
 		/*@+mustfreefresh@ */
 		return;
 	}
diff --git a/src/pv/transfer.c b/src/pv/transfer.c
index a463d5d..dad322e 100644
--- a/src/pv/transfer.c
+++ b/src/pv/transfer.c
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ static int pv__transfer_read(pvstate_t state, int fd, bool *eof_in, bool *eof_ou
 	 * the end of the file was reached.
 	 */
 	if (do_not_skip_errors) {
-		pv_error("%s: %s: %s", pv_current_file_name(state), _("read failed"), strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s: %s", pv_current_file_name(state), _("read failed"));
 		*eof_in = true;
 		if (state->transfer.write_position >= state->transfer.read_position) {
 			*eof_out = true;
@@ -509,8 +509,7 @@ static int pv__transfer_read(pvstate_t state, int fd, bool *eof_in, bool *eof_ou
 	amount_skipped = -1;
 
 	if (!state->transfer.read_error_warning_shown) {
-		pv_error("%s: %s: %s", pv_current_file_name(state), _("warning: read errors detected"),
-			 strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s: %s", pv_current_file_name(state), _("warning: read errors detected"));
 		state->transfer.read_error_warning_shown = true;
 	}
 
@@ -522,7 +521,7 @@ static int pv__transfer_read(pvstate_t state, int fd, bool *eof_in, bool *eof_ou
 	 * reached.
 	 */
 	if (0 > orig_offset) {
-		pv_error("%s: %s: %s", pv_current_file_name(state), _("file is not seekable"), strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s: %s", pv_current_file_name(state), _("file is not seekable"));
 		*eof_in = true;
 		if (state->transfer.write_position >= state->transfer.read_position) {
 			*eof_out = true;
@@ -599,8 +598,7 @@ static int pv__transfer_read(pvstate_t state, int fd, bool *eof_in, bool *eof_ou
 		 * file was reached.
 		 */
 		if (EINVAL != errno) {
-			pv_error("%s: %s: %s", pv_current_file_name(state), _("failed to seek past error"),
-				 strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s: %s", pv_current_file_name(state), _("failed to seek past error"));
 		}
 	} else {
 		amount_skipped = skip_offset - orig_offset;
@@ -749,7 +747,7 @@ static int pv__transfer_write(pvstate_t state, bool *eof_in, bool *eof_out, long
 		      (long) (new_timer.it_value.tv_usec));
 
 		if (0 != setitimer(ITIMER_REAL, &new_timer, NULL)) {
-			pv_error("%s: %s", _("failed to set interval timer"), strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s", _("failed to set interval timer"));
 		}
 
 #else				/* ! HAVE_SETITIMER */
@@ -775,7 +773,7 @@ static int pv__transfer_write(pvstate_t state, bool *eof_in, bool *eof_out, long
 		new_timer.it_value.tv_sec = 0;
 		new_timer.it_value.tv_usec = 0;
 		if (0 != setitimer(ITIMER_REAL, &new_timer, NULL)) {
-			pv_error("%s: %s", _("failed to clear interval timer"), strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s", _("failed to clear interval timer"));
 		}
 
 		/*@+unrecog@ */
@@ -822,8 +820,7 @@ static int pv__transfer_write(pvstate_t state, bool *eof_in, bool *eof_out, long
 				state->transfer.line_positions =
 				    calloc((size_t) (state->transfer.line_positions_capacity), sizeof(off_t));
 				if (NULL == state->transfer.line_positions) {
-					pv_error("%s: %s", _("line position buffer allocation failed"),
-						 strerror(errno));
+					pv_perror("%s", _("line position buffer allocation failed"));
 				}
 				/*@+mustfreeonly@ */
 				/*
@@ -1148,7 +1145,7 @@ ssize_t pv_transfer(pvstate_t state, int fd, bool *eof_in, bool *eof_out, off_t
 		state->transfer.transfer_buffer =
 		    pv__allocate_aligned_buffer(state->control.output_fd, fd, state->control.target_buffer_size + 32);
 		if (NULL == state->transfer.transfer_buffer) {
-			pv_error("%s: %s", _("buffer allocation failed"), strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s", _("buffer allocation failed"));
 			state->status.exit_status |= PV_ERROREXIT_MEMORY;
 			return -1;
 		}
@@ -1248,7 +1245,7 @@ ssize_t pv_transfer(pvstate_t state, int fd, bool *eof_in, bool *eof_out, off_t
 		/*
 		 * Any other error is reported and causes an early return.
 		 */
-		pv_error("%s: %s: %d: %s", pv_current_file_name(state), _("select call failed"), n, strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s: %s", pv_current_file_name(state), _("select call failed"));
 
 		state->status.exit_status |= PV_ERROREXIT_TRANSFER;
 
diff --git a/src/pv/watchpid.c b/src/pv/watchpid.c
index 2cf3729..d554d3b 100644
--- a/src/pv/watchpid.c
+++ b/src/pv/watchpid.c
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ int pv_watchfd_info(pvstate_t state, pvwatchfd_t info, bool automatic)
 
 	if (kill(info->watch_pid, 0) != 0) {
 		if (!automatic)
-			pv_error("%s %u: %s", _("pid"), info->watch_pid, strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s %u", _("pid"), info->watch_pid);
 		return 1;
 	}
 
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ int pv_watchfd_info(pvstate_t state, pvwatchfd_t info, bool automatic)
 				  PROC_PIDFDVNODEPATHINFO, &vnodeInfo,
 				  PROC_PIDFDVNODEPATHINFO_SIZE);
 	if (size != PROC_PIDFDVNODEPATHINFO_SIZE) {
-		pv_error("%s %u: %s %d: %s", _("pid"), info->watch_pid, _("fd"), info->watch_fd, strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s %u: %s %d", _("pid"), info->watch_pid, _("fd"), info->watch_fd);
 		return 3;
 	}
 
@@ -137,9 +137,8 @@ int pv_watchfd_info(pvstate_t state, pvwatchfd_t info, bool automatic)
 
 	if (!(0 == stat(info->file_fdpath, &(info->sb_fd)))) {
 		if (!automatic)
-			pv_error("%s %u: %s %d: %s: %s",
-				 _("pid"),
-				 info->watch_pid, _("fd"), info->watch_fd, info->file_fdpath, strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s %u: %s %d: %s",
+				  _("pid"), info->watch_pid, _("fd"), info->watch_fd, info->file_fdpath);
 		return 3;
 	}
 
@@ -182,7 +181,7 @@ int pv_watchfd_info(pvstate_t state, pvwatchfd_t info, bool automatic)
 
 	if (kill(info->watch_pid, 0) != 0) {
 		if (!automatic)
-			pv_error("%s %u: %s", _("pid"), info->watch_pid, strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s %u", _("pid"), info->watch_pid);
 		return 1;
 	}
 	(void) pv_snprintf(info->file_fdinfo, PV_SIZEOF_FILE_FDINFO,
@@ -199,17 +198,15 @@ int pv_watchfd_info(pvstate_t state, pvwatchfd_t info, bool automatic)
 		 * while it is being read.
 		 */
 		if (!automatic)
-			pv_error("%s %u: %s %d: %s",
-				 _("pid"), info->watch_pid, _("fd"), info->watch_fd, strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s %u: %s %d", _("pid"), info->watch_pid, _("fd"), info->watch_fd);
 		return 2;
 	}
 
 	if (!((0 == stat(info->file_fd, &(info->sb_fd)))
 	      && (0 == lstat(info->file_fd, &(info->sb_fd_link))))) {
 		if (!automatic)
-			pv_error("%s %u: %s %d: %s: %s",
-				 _("pid"),
-				 info->watch_pid, _("fd"), info->watch_fd, info->file_fdpath, strerror(errno));
+			pv_perror("%s %u: %s %d: %s",
+				  _("pid"), info->watch_pid, _("fd"), info->watch_fd, info->file_fdpath);
 		return 3;
 	}
 
@@ -329,7 +326,7 @@ static int pidfds(pvstate_t state, unsigned int pid, struct proc_fdinfo **fds, i
 {
 	int size_needed = proc_pidinfo(pid, PROC_PIDLISTFDS, 0, 0, 0);
 	if (size_needed == -1) {
-		pv_error("%s: unable to list pid fds: %s", _("pid"), strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s %u", _("pid"), pid);
 		return -1;
 	}
 
@@ -337,7 +334,7 @@ static int pidfds(pvstate_t state, unsigned int pid, struct proc_fdinfo **fds, i
 
 	*fds = (struct proc_fdinfo *) malloc(size_needed);
 	if (*fds == NULL) {
-		pv_error("%s: alloc failed: %s", _("pid"), strerror(errno));
+		pv_perror("%s %u", _("pid"), pid);
 		return -1;
 	}
 	memset(*fds, 0, size_needed);