diff --git a/spa/examples/example-control.c b/spa/examples/example-control.c
index 8b00b2118..e7e0f70cc 100644
--- a/spa/examples/example-control.c
+++ b/spa/examples/example-control.c
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
  */
 
 #include <math.h>
-#include <error.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
@@ -322,8 +321,10 @@ static int make_nodes(struct data *data, const char *device)
 	if ((res = spa_node_port_set_io(data->source,
 				     SPA_DIRECTION_OUTPUT, 0,
 				     SPA_IO_Control,
-				     &data->ctrl, sizeof(data->ctrl))) < 0)
-				error(0, -res, "set_io freq");
+				     &data->ctrl, sizeof(data->ctrl))) < 0) {
+		printf("can't set_io freq: %d\n", res);
+		return res;
+	}
 
 	data->source_sink_io[0] = SPA_IO_BUFFERS_INIT;
 
diff --git a/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-utils.c b/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-utils.c
index 1b4701704..8c2bb8d94 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-utils.c
+++ b/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-utils.c
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ static int spa_alsa_open(struct state *state)
 
 	CHECK(snd_output_stdio_attach(&state->output, stderr, 0), "attach failed");
 
-	spa_log_info(state->log, "%p: ALSA device open '%s'", state, props->device);
+	spa_log_info(state->log, "%p: ALSA device open '%s' %s", state, props->device,
+			state->stream == SND_PCM_STREAM_CAPTURE ? "capture" : "playback");
 	CHECK(snd_pcm_open(&state->hndl,
 			   props->device,
 			   state->stream,
diff --git a/spa/tools/spa-inspect.c b/spa/tools/spa-inspect.c
index cc93b8f98..7f894b99f 100644
--- a/spa/tools/spa-inspect.c
+++ b/spa/tools/spa-inspect.c
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
  * DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
  */
 
-#include <error.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
@@ -94,7 +93,7 @@ inspect_node_params(struct data *data, struct spa_node *node,
 		spa_hook_remove(&listener);
 
 		if (res != 0) {
-			error(0, -res, "enum_params %d", params[i].id);
+			printf("error enum_params %d: %s", params[i].id, spa_strerror(res));
 			break;
 		}
 	}
@@ -132,7 +131,7 @@ inspect_port_params(struct data *data, struct spa_node *node,
 		spa_hook_remove(&listener);
 
 		if (res != 0) {
-			error(0, -res, "port_enum_params %d", params[i].id);
+			printf("error port_enum_params %d: %s", params[i].id, spa_strerror(res));
 			break;
 		}
 	}
@@ -212,10 +211,10 @@ static void inspect_factory(struct data *data, const struct spa_handle_factory *
 	printf("factory interfaces:\n");
 	for (index = 0;;) {
 		if ((res = spa_handle_factory_enum_interface_info(factory, &info, &index)) <= 0) {
-			if (res == 0)
-				break;
-			else
-				error(0, -res, "spa_handle_factory_enum_interface_info");
+			if (res != 0)
+				printf("error spa_handle_factory_enum_interface_info: %s",
+						 spa_strerror(res));
+			break;
 		}
 		printf(" interface: '%d'\n", info->type);
 	}
@@ -231,10 +230,10 @@ static void inspect_factory(struct data *data, const struct spa_handle_factory *
 
 	for (index = 0;;) {
 		if ((res = spa_handle_factory_enum_interface_info(factory, &info, &index)) <= 0) {
-			if (res == 0)
-				break;
-			else
-				error(0, -res, "spa_handle_factory_enum_interface_info");
+			if (res != 0)
+				printf("error spa_handle_factory_enum_interface_info: %s",
+						 spa_strerror(res));
+			break;
 		}
 		printf(" interface: '%d'\n", info->type);
 
@@ -296,7 +295,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 		if ((res = enum_func(&factory, &index)) <= 0) {
 			if (res != 0)
-				error(0, -res, "enum_func");
+				printf("error enum_func: %s", spa_strerror(res));
 			break;
 		}
 		inspect_factory(&data, factory);