diff --git a/server-client.go b/server-client.go
index a35ca1013aa..a264d669017 100644
--- a/server-client.go
+++ b/server-client.go
@@ -38,6 +38,29 @@ const (
 	_CLIENT_STATE_RECORD
 )
 
+func (cs clientState) String() string {
+	switch cs {
+	case _CLIENT_STATE_STARTING:
+		return "STARTING"
+
+	case _CLIENT_STATE_ANNOUNCE:
+		return "ANNOUNCE"
+
+	case _CLIENT_STATE_PRE_PLAY:
+		return "PRE_PLAY"
+
+	case _CLIENT_STATE_PLAY:
+		return "PLAY"
+
+	case _CLIENT_STATE_PRE_RECORD:
+		return "PRE_RECORD"
+
+	case _CLIENT_STATE_RECORD:
+		return "RECORD"
+	}
+	return "UNKNOWN"
+}
+
 type serverClient struct {
 	p               *program
 	conn            *gortsplib.ConnServer
@@ -263,7 +286,8 @@ func (c *serverClient) handleRequest(req *gortsplib.Request) bool {
 
 	case gortsplib.DESCRIBE:
 		if c.state != _CLIENT_STATE_STARTING {
-			c.writeResError(req, gortsplib.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Errorf("client is in state '%d'", c.state))
+			c.writeResError(req, gortsplib.StatusBadRequest,
+				fmt.Errorf("client is in state '%s' instead of '%s'", c.state, _CLIENT_STATE_STARTING))
 			return false
 		}
 
@@ -304,7 +328,8 @@ func (c *serverClient) handleRequest(req *gortsplib.Request) bool {
 
 	case gortsplib.ANNOUNCE:
 		if c.state != _CLIENT_STATE_STARTING {
-			c.writeResError(req, gortsplib.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Errorf("client is in state '%d'", c.state))
+			c.writeResError(req, gortsplib.StatusBadRequest,
+				fmt.Errorf("client is in state '%s' instead of '%s'", c.state, _CLIENT_STATE_STARTING))
 			return false
 		}
 
@@ -669,13 +694,14 @@ func (c *serverClient) handleRequest(req *gortsplib.Request) bool {
 			}
 
 		default:
-			c.writeResError(req, gortsplib.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Errorf("client is in state '%d'", c.state))
+			c.writeResError(req, gortsplib.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Errorf("client is in state '%s'", c.state))
 			return false
 		}
 
 	case gortsplib.PLAY:
 		if c.state != _CLIENT_STATE_PRE_PLAY {
-			c.writeResError(req, gortsplib.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Errorf("client is in state '%d'", c.state))
+			c.writeResError(req, gortsplib.StatusBadRequest,
+				fmt.Errorf("client is in state '%s' instead of '%s'", c.state, _CLIENT_STATE_PRE_PLAY))
 			return false
 		}
 
@@ -752,7 +778,8 @@ func (c *serverClient) handleRequest(req *gortsplib.Request) bool {
 
 	case gortsplib.PAUSE:
 		if c.state != _CLIENT_STATE_PLAY {
-			c.writeResError(req, gortsplib.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Errorf("client is in state '%d'", c.state))
+			c.writeResError(req, gortsplib.StatusBadRequest,
+				fmt.Errorf("client is in state '%s' instead of '%s'", c.state, _CLIENT_STATE_PLAY))
 			return false
 		}
 
@@ -778,7 +805,8 @@ func (c *serverClient) handleRequest(req *gortsplib.Request) bool {
 
 	case gortsplib.RECORD:
 		if c.state != _CLIENT_STATE_PRE_RECORD {
-			c.writeResError(req, gortsplib.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Errorf("client is in state '%d'", c.state))
+			c.writeResError(req, gortsplib.StatusBadRequest,
+				fmt.Errorf("client is in state '%s' instead of '%s'", c.state, _CLIENT_STATE_PRE_RECORD))
 			return false
 		}