diff --git a/libp2p/security/security_multistream.py b/libp2p/security/security_multistream.py
index a9c4b19c..f7c81de1 100644
--- a/libp2p/security/security_multistream.py
+++ b/libp2p/security/security_multistream.py
@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@ class SecurityMultistream(ABC):
             # Select protocol if non-initiator
             protocol, _ = await self.multiselect.negotiate(communicator)
         if protocol is None:
-            raise MultiselectError("fail to negotiate a security protocol")
+            raise MultiselectError(
+                "fail to negotiate a security protocol: no protocl selected"
+            )
         # Return transport from protocol
         return self.transports[protocol]
diff --git a/libp2p/stream_muxer/muxer_multistream.py b/libp2p/stream_muxer/muxer_multistream.py
index 322db912..76689c17 100644
--- a/libp2p/stream_muxer/muxer_multistream.py
+++ b/libp2p/stream_muxer/muxer_multistream.py
@@ -85,7 +85,9 @@ class MuxerMultistream:
         else:
             protocol, _ = await self.multiselect.negotiate(communicator)
         if protocol is None:
-            raise MultiselectError("fail to negotiate a stream muxer protocol")
+            raise MultiselectError(
+                "fail to negotiate a stream muxer protocol: no protocol selected"
+            )
         return self.transports[protocol]
 
     async def new_conn(self, conn: ISecureConn, peer_id: ID) -> IMuxedConn: