diff --git a/soulseek-rs-lib/src/client.rs b/soulseek-rs-lib/src/client.rs
index 6d45864..a48abb9 100644
--- a/soulseek-rs-lib/src/client.rs
+++ b/soulseek-rs-lib/src/client.rs
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ fn download_without_a_connection_resolves_failed() {
         .expect("download() should return a handle");
     assert!(matches!(
         receiver.recv_timeout(Duration::from_secs(1)),
-        Ok(DownloadStatus::Failed)
+        Ok(DownloadStatus::Failed(_))
     ));
 }
 
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ fn fail_queued_downloads_notifies_receiver_and_store() {
 
     Client::fail_queued_downloads(&client.context, "peer");
 
-    assert!(matches!(receiver.try_recv(), Ok(DownloadStatus::Failed)));
+    assert!(matches!(receiver.try_recv(), Ok(DownloadStatus::Failed(_))));
     assert!(matches!(
         client
             .context
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ fn fail_queued_downloads_notifies_receiver_and_store() {
             .get_download_by_token(7)
             .unwrap()
             .status,
-        DownloadStatus::Failed
+        DownloadStatus::Failed(_)
     ));
 }
 
@@ -1056,10 +1056,18 @@ impl Client {
         };
 
         if failed {
-            let _ = download.sender.send(DownloadStatus::Failed);
-            self.context
-                .write_safe()?
-                .update_download_with_status(token, DownloadStatus::Failed);
+            let reason = if peer_registered {
+                "Peer rejected the download request"
+            } else {
+                "Could not connect to the peer"
+            };
+            let _ = download
+                .sender
+                .send(DownloadStatus::Failed(Some(reason.to_string())));
+            self.context.write_safe()?.update_download_with_status(
+                token,
+                DownloadStatus::Failed(Some(reason.to_string())),
+            );
         }
 
         Ok((download, download_receiver))
@@ -1088,8 +1096,12 @@ impl Client {
             .map(|d| (d.token, d.sender.clone()))
             .collect();
         for (token, sender) in doomed {
-            let _ = sender.send(DownloadStatus::Failed);
-            context.update_download_with_status(token, DownloadStatus::Failed);
+            let reason = Some("Peer disconnected".to_string());
+            let _ = sender.send(DownloadStatus::Failed(reason.clone()));
+            context.update_download_with_status(
+                token,
+                DownloadStatus::Failed(reason),
+            );
         }
     }
 
@@ -1142,9 +1154,12 @@ impl Client {
         match client_context.write_safe() {
             Ok(mut context) => {
                 for token in failed_tokens {
-                    context
-                        .downloads
-                        .update_status(token, DownloadStatus::Failed);
+                    context.downloads.update_status(
+                        token,
+                        DownloadStatus::Failed(Some(
+                            "Peer reported the upload failed".to_string(),
+                        )),
+                    );
                     context.downloads.remove(token);
                 }
             }
@@ -1326,9 +1341,12 @@ impl Client {
                                                             );
                                                         }
                                                         Err(e) => {
-                                                            let _ = download.sender.send(DownloadStatus::Failed);
+                                                            let reason = Some(
+                                                                e.to_string(),
+                                                            );
+                                                            let _ = download.sender.send(DownloadStatus::Failed(reason.clone()));
                                                             match client_context_clone.write_safe() {
-                                                                Ok(mut ctx) => ctx.update_download_with_status(download.token, DownloadStatus::Failed),
+                                                                Ok(mut ctx) => ctx.update_download_with_status(download.token, DownloadStatus::Failed(reason)),
                                                                 Err(e) => error!("[client] download failed write: {}", e),
                                                             }
                                                             error!(
diff --git a/soulseek-rs-lib/src/download_store.rs b/soulseek-rs-lib/src/download_store.rs
index 539acfa..f02a70e 100644
--- a/soulseek-rs-lib/src/download_store.rs
+++ b/soulseek-rs-lib/src/download_store.rs
@@ -149,7 +149,9 @@ pub fn collect_failed_tokens(
             d.username == username && filename.is_none_or(|f| d.filename == *f)
         })
         .map(|d| {
-            let _ = d.sender.send(DownloadStatus::Failed);
+            let _ = d.sender.send(DownloadStatus::Failed(Some(
+                "Peer reported the upload failed".to_string(),
+            )));
             d.token
         })
         .collect()
@@ -301,7 +303,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(tokens, vec![1]);
         assert!(matches!(
             rx_match.try_recv().unwrap(),
-            DownloadStatus::Failed
+            DownloadStatus::Failed(_)
         ));
     }
 }
diff --git a/soulseek-rs-lib/src/peer/listen.rs b/soulseek-rs-lib/src/peer/listen.rs
index bb0cd86..a878c96 100644
--- a/soulseek-rs-lib/src/peer/listen.rs
+++ b/soulseek-rs-lib/src/peer/listen.rs
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ fn handle_file_connection(
                 match context.client_context.write_safe() {
                     Ok(mut ctx) => ctx.update_download_with_status(
                         failure_token,
-                        DownloadStatus::Failed,
+                        DownloadStatus::Failed(Some(e.to_string())),
                     ),
                     Err(e) => {
                         error!(
diff --git a/soulseek-rs-lib/src/types.rs b/soulseek-rs-lib/src/types.rs
index bd520b8..cc31e65 100644
--- a/soulseek-rs-lib/src/types.rs
+++ b/soulseek-rs-lib/src/types.rs
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ impl Download {
         matches!(
             self.status,
             DownloadStatus::Completed
-                | DownloadStatus::Failed
+                | DownloadStatus::Failed(_)
                 | DownloadStatus::TimedOut
         )
     }
@@ -159,7 +159,8 @@ pub enum DownloadStatus {
         total_bytes: u64,
     },
     Completed,
-    Failed,
+    /// Failed, optionally with a human-readable reason.
+    Failed(Option<String>),
     TimedOut,
 }
 impl Transfer {
diff --git a/soulseek-rs-lib/tests/e2e.rs b/soulseek-rs-lib/tests/e2e.rs
index d4a1a10..35d1b6a 100644
--- a/soulseek-rs-lib/tests/e2e.rs
+++ b/soulseek-rs-lib/tests/e2e.rs
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ fn a_file_downloads_from_a_peer_over_p_and_f_connections() {
                 completed = true;
                 break;
             }
-            Ok(DownloadStatus::Failed | DownloadStatus::TimedOut) => {
+            Ok(DownloadStatus::Failed(_) | DownloadStatus::TimedOut) => {
                 break;
             }
             _ => {}
@@ -862,7 +862,7 @@ fn a_file_downloads_from_a_peer_via_direct_connection() {
                 completed = true;
                 break;
             }
-            Ok(DownloadStatus::Failed | DownloadStatus::TimedOut) => break,
+            Ok(DownloadStatus::Failed(_) | DownloadStatus::TimedOut) => break,
             _ => {}
         }
         if client
@@ -1021,7 +1021,7 @@ fn a_file_downloads_from_a_firewalled_peer_via_server_broker() {
                 completed = true;
                 break;
             }
-            Ok(DownloadStatus::Failed | DownloadStatus::TimedOut) => break,
+            Ok(DownloadStatus::Failed(_) | DownloadStatus::TimedOut) => break,
             _ => {}
         }
         if client
@@ -1122,7 +1122,7 @@ fn two_real_clients_search_and_download() {
                 completed = true;
                 break;
             }
-            Ok(DownloadStatus::Failed | DownloadStatus::TimedOut) => break,
+            Ok(DownloadStatus::Failed(_) | DownloadStatus::TimedOut) => break,
             _ => {}
         }
         if leecher
diff --git a/soulseek-rs/src/ui/downloads.rs b/soulseek-rs/src/ui/downloads.rs
index b53316c..3b9dbe5 100644
--- a/soulseek-rs/src/ui/downloads.rs
+++ b/soulseek-rs/src/ui/downloads.rs
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ impl MultiDownloadProgress {
                     DownloadStatus::InProgress { .. } => "⧗",
                     DownloadStatus::Paused { .. } => "⏸",
                     DownloadStatus::Completed => "✓",
-                    DownloadStatus::Failed => "✗",
+                    DownloadStatus::Failed(_) => "✗",
                     DownloadStatus::TimedOut => "⏱",
                 };
 
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ impl MultiDownloadProgress {
                     DownloadStatus::InProgress { .. } => warning_style(),
                     DownloadStatus::Paused { .. } => info_style(),
                     DownloadStatus::Completed => primary_style(),
-                    DownloadStatus::Failed | DownloadStatus::TimedOut => {
+                    DownloadStatus::Failed(_) | DownloadStatus::TimedOut => {
                         error_style()
                     }
                 };
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ pub fn render_download_stats(
         .filter(|d| {
             matches!(
                 d.download.status,
-                DownloadStatus::Failed | DownloadStatus::TimedOut
+                DownloadStatus::Failed(_) | DownloadStatus::TimedOut
             )
         })
         .count();
diff --git a/soulseek-rs/src/ui/main_tui.rs b/soulseek-rs/src/ui/main_tui.rs
index 0f55932..320cf9a 100644
--- a/soulseek-rs/src/ui/main_tui.rs
+++ b/soulseek-rs/src/ui/main_tui.rs
@@ -958,7 +958,7 @@ impl MainTui {
         };
         if !matches!(
             entry.download.status,
-            DownloadStatus::Failed | DownloadStatus::TimedOut
+            DownloadStatus::Failed(_) | DownloadStatus::TimedOut
         ) {
             return;
         }
@@ -995,7 +995,7 @@ impl MainTui {
             !matches!(
                 entry.download.status,
                 DownloadStatus::Completed
-                    | DownloadStatus::Failed
+                    | DownloadStatus::Failed(_)
                     | DownloadStatus::TimedOut
             )
         });
diff --git a/soulseek-rs/src/ui/panes/download_info_pane.rs b/soulseek-rs/src/ui/panes/download_info_pane.rs
index 30063c1..e3f4bc4 100644
--- a/soulseek-rs/src/ui/panes/download_info_pane.rs
+++ b/soulseek-rs/src/ui/panes/download_info_pane.rs
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ fn build_info_lines(
         }
         DownloadStatus::Paused { .. } => ("Paused".to_string(), info_style()),
         DownloadStatus::Completed => ("Completed".to_string(), success_style()),
-        DownloadStatus::Failed => ("Failed".to_string(), error_style()),
+        DownloadStatus::Failed(_) => ("Failed".to_string(), error_style()),
         DownloadStatus::TimedOut => ("Timed out".to_string(), error_style()),
     };
     lines.push(label_value_styled("Status", status_text, status_style));
@@ -139,9 +139,20 @@ fn build_info_lines(
             lines.push(Line::from(""));
             push_progress_lines(&mut lines, *bytes_downloaded, *total_bytes);
         }
-        DownloadStatus::Completed
-        | DownloadStatus::Failed
-        | DownloadStatus::TimedOut => {}
+        DownloadStatus::Failed(reason) => {
+            if let Some(reason) = reason {
+                lines.push(Line::from(""));
+                lines.push(Line::from(Span::styled(
+                    format!("{:<LABEL_WIDTH$}", "Error"),
+                    dimmed_style(),
+                )));
+                lines.push(Line::from(Span::styled(
+                    reason.clone(),
+                    error_style(),
+                )));
+            }
+        }
+        DownloadStatus::Completed | DownloadStatus::TimedOut => {}
     }
 
     lines
@@ -256,4 +267,52 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(basename, "track.mp3");
         assert_eq!(parent, "");
     }
+
+    fn download_with_status(
+        status: DownloadStatus,
+    ) -> soulseek_rs::types::Download {
+        let (sender, _rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
+        soulseek_rs::types::Download {
+            username: "peer".to_string(),
+            filename: "song.mp3".to_string(),
+            token: 1,
+            size: 100,
+            download_directory: "~/dl".to_string(),
+            status,
+            sender,
+            queue_position: None,
+            metadata: soulseek_rs::types::DownloadMetadata::default(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn lines_to_text(lines: &[Line<'static>]) -> String {
+        lines
+            .iter()
+            .map(|l| {
+                l.spans
+                    .iter()
+                    .map(|s| s.content.as_ref())
+                    .collect::<String>()
+            })
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+            .join("\n")
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn failed_download_renders_its_error_reason() {
+        let download = download_with_status(DownloadStatus::Failed(Some(
+            "Peer disconnected".to_string(),
+        )));
+        let text = lines_to_text(&build_info_lines(&download));
+        assert!(text.contains("Error"), "missing Error label: {text}");
+        assert!(text.contains("Peer disconnected"), "missing reason: {text}");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn failed_download_without_reason_shows_no_error_line() {
+        let download = download_with_status(DownloadStatus::Failed(None));
+        let text = lines_to_text(&build_info_lines(&download));
+        assert!(text.contains("Failed"), "status should still show Failed");
+        assert!(!text.contains("Error"), "unexpected Error line: {text}");
+    }
 }
diff --git a/soulseek-rs/src/ui/panes/downloads_pane.rs b/soulseek-rs/src/ui/panes/downloads_pane.rs
index f339971..0b354f4 100644
--- a/soulseek-rs/src/ui/panes/downloads_pane.rs
+++ b/soulseek-rs/src/ui/panes/downloads_pane.rs
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ pub fn render_downloads_pane(
                 DownloadStatus::InProgress { .. } => ("⧗", warning_style()),
                 DownloadStatus::Paused { .. } => ("⏸", info_style()),
                 DownloadStatus::Completed => ("✓", success_style()),
-                DownloadStatus::Failed => ("✗", error_style()),
+                DownloadStatus::Failed(_) => ("✗", error_style()),
                 DownloadStatus::TimedOut => ("⏱", error_style()),
             };
 
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ pub fn render_downloads_pane(
                     )
                 }
                 DownloadStatus::Completed => "Completed".to_string(),
-                DownloadStatus::Failed => "Failed".to_string(),
+                DownloadStatus::Failed(_) => "Failed".to_string(),
                 DownloadStatus::TimedOut => "Timed out".to_string(),
             };