diff --git a/blastmud_game/src/db.rs b/blastmud_game/src/db.rs
index 896d111..c213e4d 100644
--- a/blastmud_game/src/db.rs
+++ b/blastmud_game/src/db.rs
@@ -688,9 +688,10 @@ impl DBTrans {
             )
             .await?
         {
-            return Ok(Some(Arc::new(serde_json::from_value::<Item>(
-                item.get("details"),
-            )?)));
+            return Ok(Some(Arc::new(
+                serde_json::from_value::<Item>(item.get("details"))
+                    .map_err(|e| format!("Decoding item {}/{}: {}", item_type, item_code, e))?,
+            )));
         }
         Ok(None)
     }