diff --git a/kivy/core/__init__.py b/kivy/core/__init__.py
index 495dbb5b2..96ecc21e3 100644
--- a/kivy/core/__init__.py
+++ b/kivy/core/__init__.py
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ else:
             except CoreCriticalException as e:
                 Logger.error('%s: Unable to use <%s> as %s'
                      'provider' % (category.capitalize(), option, category))
-                Logger.error('%s: The module raised an important error' %
-                        (category.capitalize()))
+                Logger.error('%s: The module raised an important error: %r' %
+                        (category.capitalize(), e.message))
                 raise
 
             except Exception as e:
diff --git a/kivy/core/window/window_pygame.py b/kivy/core/window/window_pygame.py
index c940604a5..a2e76e1e0 100644
--- a/kivy/core/window/window_pygame.py
+++ b/kivy/core/window/window_pygame.py
@@ -113,7 +113,10 @@ class WindowPygame(WindowBase):
                 pygame.display.gl_set_attribute(pygame.GL_MULTISAMPLEBUFFERS, 0)
                 pygame.display.gl_set_attribute(pygame.GL_MULTISAMPLESAMPLES, 0)
                 multisamples = 0
-                self._pygame_set_mode()
+                try:
+                    self._pygame_set_mode()
+                except pygame.error, e:
+                    raise CoreCriticalException(e.message)
             else:
                 Logger.warning('WinPygame: Video setup failed :-(')
                 raise