diff --git a/examples/screencopy-dmabuf.c b/examples/screencopy-dmabuf.c
index 2525efc5a..e7657e1a9 100644
--- a/examples/screencopy-dmabuf.c
+++ b/examples/screencopy-dmabuf.c
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 
 	drm_fd = open(render_node, O_RDWR);
 	if (drm_fd < 0) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "Failed to open drm render node: %m\n");
+		perror("Failed to open drm render node");
 		return EXIT_FAILURE;
 	}
 
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 
 	struct wl_display *display = wl_display_connect(NULL);
 	if (display == NULL) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "failed to create display: %m\n");
+		perror("failed to create display");
 		return EXIT_FAILURE;
 	}
 
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	void *data = gbm_bo_map(buffer.bo, 0, 0, buffer.width, buffer.height,
 			GBM_BO_TRANSFER_READ, &stride, &map_data);
 	if (!data) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "Failed to map gbm bo: %m\n");
+		perror("Failed to map gbm bo");
 		return EXIT_FAILURE;
 	}
 
diff --git a/examples/screencopy.c b/examples/screencopy.c
index 0e03a2384..42123e55e 100644
--- a/examples/screencopy.c
+++ b/examples/screencopy.c
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ static struct wl_buffer *create_shm_buffer(enum wl_shm_format fmt,
 
 	void *data = mmap(NULL, size, PROT_READ | PROT_WRITE, MAP_SHARED, fd, 0);
 	if (data == MAP_FAILED) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "mmap failed: %m\n");
+		perror("mmap failed");
 		close(fd);
 		return NULL;
 	}
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ static void write_image(char *filename, enum wl_shm_format wl_fmt, int width,
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	struct wl_display * display = wl_display_connect(NULL);
 	if (display == NULL) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "failed to create display: %m\n");
+		perror("failed to create display");
 		return EXIT_FAILURE;
 	}
 
diff --git a/examples/virtual-pointer.c b/examples/virtual-pointer.c
index 8fd148305..b91768a47 100644
--- a/examples/virtual-pointer.c
+++ b/examples/virtual-pointer.c
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	}
 	struct wl_display * display = wl_display_connect(NULL);
 	if (display == NULL) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "failed to create display: %m\n");
+		perror("failed to create display");
 		return EXIT_FAILURE;
 	}