diff --git a/client.go b/client.go
index 1e91e05..03ea14a 100644
--- a/client.go
+++ b/client.go
@@ -21,3 +21,14 @@ func NewAll(timeout time.Duration) *Client {
 		Source:  source.New(source.Options{Timeout: timeout}),
 	}
 }
+
+func (c *Client) SetSourceDebug(debug bool) {
+	if c == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	timeout := 2 * time.Second
+	if c.Source != nil {
+		timeout = c.Source.Timeout()
+	}
+	c.Source = source.New(source.Options{Timeout: timeout, Debug: debug})
+}
diff --git a/cmd/gamestatus/main.go b/cmd/gamestatus/main.go
index cfdb478..8f080bf 100644
--- a/cmd/gamestatus/main.go
+++ b/cmd/gamestatus/main.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	client := gamestatus.NewAll(cfg.timeout)
+	client.SetSourceDebug(cfg.debug)
 
 	info, err := connect(client, cfg.edition, host, port, cfg.useQuery)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ type cliConfig struct {
 	useQuery bool
 	pretty   bool
 	motdRaw  bool
+	debug    bool
 }
 
 func parseCLI(args []string) (cliConfig, string, error) {
@@ -70,6 +72,7 @@ func parseCLI(args []string) (cliConfig, string, error) {
 	useQuery := fs.Bool("query", false, "use full query when supported")
 	pretty := fs.Bool("pretty", false, "use compact human-friendly output")
 	motdRaw := fs.Bool("motd-raw", false, "print raw MOTD without cleanup")
+	debug := fs.Bool("debug", false, "print protocol-specific diagnostics")
 
 	if len(args) > 0 {
 		switch strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(args[0])) {
@@ -96,6 +99,7 @@ func parseCLI(args []string) (cliConfig, string, error) {
 	cfg.useQuery = *useQuery
 	cfg.pretty = *pretty
 	cfg.motdRaw = *motdRaw
+	cfg.debug = *debug
 
 	if fs.NArg() != 1 {
 		return cfg, "", nil
@@ -126,6 +130,8 @@ func printUsage() {
 	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "        use compact human-friendly output")
 	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "  -motd-raw")
 	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "        print raw MOTD without cleanup")
+	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "  -debug")
+	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "        print protocol-specific diagnostics")
 }
 
 func connect(client *gamestatus.Client, edition, host string, port int, useQuery bool) (*gamestatus.ServerInfo, error) {
diff --git a/source/source.go b/source/source.go
index aa84637..75760b2 100644
--- a/source/source.go
+++ b/source/source.go
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ package source
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"net"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -14,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 
 type Options struct {
 	Timeout time.Duration
+	Debug   bool
 }
 
 type Client struct {
@@ -27,6 +30,13 @@ func New(opt Options) *Client {
 	return &Client{opt: opt}
 }
 
+func (c *Client) Timeout() time.Duration {
+	if c == nil {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return c.opt.Timeout
+}
+
 func (c *Client) Connect(address string, port int) (*info.ServerInfo, error) {
 	return c.query(address, port, false)
 }
@@ -93,14 +103,14 @@ func (c *Client) query(address string, port int, full bool) (*info.ServerInfo, e
 	addr := normalizeAddress(address, port)
 	client, err := a2s.NewClient(addr, a2s.TimeoutOption(c.opt.Timeout))
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, wrapQueryError(addr, "connect", err, c.opt.Debug)
 	}
 	defer client.Close()
 
 	start := time.Now()
 	infoResp, err := client.QueryInfo()
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, wrapQueryError(addr, "info", err, c.opt.Debug)
 	}
 
 	out := &info.ServerInfo{
@@ -133,10 +143,14 @@ func (c *Client) query(address string, port int, full bool) (*info.ServerInfo, e
 				}
 			}
 			out.Players = names
+		} else if err != nil && c.opt.Debug {
+			return nil, wrapQueryError(addr, "players", err, true)
 		}
 		rulesResp, err := client.QueryRules()
 		if err == nil && rulesResp != nil {
 			out.RawQuery = rulesResp.Rules
+		} else if err != nil && c.opt.Debug {
+			return nil, wrapQueryError(addr, "rules", err, true)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -145,6 +159,25 @@ func (c *Client) query(address string, port int, full bool) (*info.ServerInfo, e
 	return out, nil
 }
 
+func wrapQueryError(addr, stage string, err error, debug bool) error {
+	if err == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	var netErr net.Error
+	if errors.As(err, &netErr) && netErr.Timeout() {
+		msg := fmt.Sprintf("no A2S response from %s", addr)
+		if debug && strings.TrimSpace(stage) != "" {
+			msg += fmt.Sprintf(" during %s", stage)
+		}
+		msg += " (server may have query disabled, blocked, or be using a different query port)"
+		return errors.New(msg)
+	}
+	if debug && strings.TrimSpace(stage) != "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("source query %s failed for %s: %w", stage, addr, err)
+	}
+	return err
+}
+
 func normalizeAddress(host string, port int) string {
 	if port == 0 {
 		port = a2s.DefaultPort