diff --git a/src/gdbserver/gdb-server.c b/src/gdbserver/gdb-server.c
index 1c45c2538..2b5b1d3cb 100644
--- a/src/gdbserver/gdb-server.c
+++ b/src/gdbserver/gdb-server.c
@@ -234,7 +234,14 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
     printf("st-util %s\n", STLINK_VERSION);
 
     sl = do_connect(&state);
-    if (sl == NULL) return 1;
+    if (sl == NULL) {
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    if (sl->chip_id == STLINK_CHIPID_UNKNOWN)  {
+        ELOG("Unsupported Target (Chip ID is %#010x, Core ID is %#010x).\n", sl->chip_id, sl->core_id);
+        return 1;
+    }
 
     connected_stlink = sl;
     signal(SIGINT, &cleanup);
@@ -245,10 +252,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
         stlink_reset(sl);
     }
 
-
-    // This is low-level information for debugging, not useful for normal use. 
-    // So: Demoted to a debug meesage. -- REW
-    DLOG("Chip ID is %08x, Core ID is  %08x.\n", sl->chip_id, sl->core_id);
+    DLOG("Chip ID is %#010x, Core ID is %#08x.\n", sl->chip_id, sl->core_id);
 
     sl->verbose=0;
     current_memory_map = make_memory_map(sl);
@@ -1852,7 +1856,8 @@ int serve(stlink_t *sl, st_state_t *st) {
                 stlink_close(sl);
 
                 sl = do_connect(st);
-                if (sl == NULL) cleanup(0);
+                if (sl == NULL || sl->chip_id == STLINK_CHIPID_UNKNOWN)
+                    cleanup(0);
                 connected_stlink = sl;
 
                 if (st->reset) {
diff --git a/src/tools/flash.c b/src/tools/flash.c
index e91001659..3a9cc3674 100644
--- a/src/tools/flash.c
+++ b/src/tools/flash.c
@@ -59,8 +59,14 @@ int main(int ac, char** av)
 
     sl = stlink_open_usb(o.log_level, 1, (char *)o.serial);
 
-    if (sl == NULL)
+    if (sl == NULL) {
         return -1;
+    }
+
+    if (sl->flash_type == STLINK_FLASH_TYPE_UNKNOWN) {
+        printf("Failed to connect to target\n");
+        return -1;
+    }
 
     if ( o.flash_size != 0u && o.flash_size != sl->flash_size ) {
         sl->flash_size = o.flash_size;
diff --git a/src/usb.c b/src/usb.c
index 206600f14..c9ea7039a 100644
--- a/src/usb.c
+++ b/src/usb.c
@@ -1045,7 +1045,7 @@ stlink_t *stlink_open_usb(enum ugly_loglevel verbose, bool reset, char serial[ST
     stlink_set_swdclk(sl, STLINK_SWDCLK_1P8MHZ_DIVISOR);
 
     if (stlink_current_mode(sl) != STLINK_DEV_DEBUG_MODE) {
-	stlink_enter_swd_mode(sl);
+        stlink_enter_swd_mode(sl);
     }
 
     if (reset) {
@@ -1054,11 +1054,8 @@ stlink_t *stlink_open_usb(enum ugly_loglevel verbose, bool reset, char serial[ST
         usleep(10000);
     }
 
-    ret = stlink_load_device_params(sl);
-    if (ret == -1) {
-        // This one didn't have any message. 
-        goto on_libusb_error;
-    }
+    stlink_load_device_params(sl);
+
     return sl;
 
 on_libusb_error:
@@ -1133,9 +1130,9 @@ static size_t stlink_probe_usb_devs(libusb_device **devs, stlink_t **sldevs[]) {
 		ret = libusb_open(dev, &handle);
 		if (ret < 0) {
 			if (ret == LIBUSB_ERROR_ACCESS) {
-                WLOG("failed to open USB device (LIBUSB_ERROR_ACCESS), try running as root?\n");
-            } else {
-                WLOG("failed to open USB device (libusb error: %d)\n", ret);
+				ELOG("Could not open USB device %#06x:%#06x, access error.\n", desc.idVendor, desc.idProduct, ret);
+			} else {
+				ELOG("Failed to open USB device %#06x:%#06x, libusb error: %d)\n", desc.idVendor, desc.idProduct, ret);
 			}
 			break;
 		}
@@ -1149,8 +1146,10 @@ static size_t stlink_probe_usb_devs(libusb_device **devs, stlink_t **sldevs[]) {
 		}
 
         stlink_t *sl = stlink_open_usb(0, 1, serial);
-        if (!sl)
+        if (!sl) {
+            ELOG("Failed to open USB device %#06x:%#06x\n", desc.idVendor, desc.idProduct);
             continue;
+		}
 
         _sldevs[slcur++] = sl;
     }