diff --git a/front_matter/src/lib.rs b/front_matter/src/lib.rs
index 8861d20e9..28cd98e3f 100644
--- a/front_matter/src/lib.rs
+++ b/front_matter/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use eyre::bail;
+use eyre::{ContextCompat, bail};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use toml::value::Date;
 
@@ -21,12 +21,12 @@ pub struct FrontMatter {
 /// the tuple.
 pub fn parse(markdown: &str) -> eyre::Result<(FrontMatter, &str)> {
     if !markdown.starts_with("+++\n") {
-        bail!("markdown file must start with the line `+++`");
+        bail!("missing start of TOML front matter (+++)");
     }
     let (front_matter, content) = markdown
         .trim_start_matches("+++\n")
         .split_once("\n+++\n")
-        .expect("couldn't find the end of the front matter: `+++`");
+        .context("missing end of TOML front matter (+++)")?;
 
     Ok((toml::from_str(front_matter)?, content))
 }
@@ -63,7 +63,9 @@ mod tests {
 
         for post in posts {
             let content = fs::read_to_string(&post).unwrap();
-            let normalized = normalize(&content).unwrap();
+            let normalized = normalize(&content).unwrap_or_else(|err| {
+                panic!("failed to normalize {:?}: {err}", post.file_name().unwrap());
+            });
 
             if content != normalized {
                 if env::var("FIX_FRONT_MATTER").is_ok() {
diff --git a/src/posts.rs b/src/posts.rs
index 0f27a8b6f..8b7f996bf 100644
--- a/src/posts.rs
+++ b/src/posts.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use super::blogs::Manifest;
+use eyre::Context;
 use front_matter::FrontMatter;
 use regex::Regex;
 use serde::Serialize;
@@ -56,7 +57,8 @@ impl Post {
                 ..
             },
             contents,
-        ) = front_matter::parse(&contents)?;
+        ) = front_matter::parse(&contents)
+            .with_context(|| format!("failed to parse {filename}"))?;
 
         let options = comrak::Options {
             render: comrak::RenderOptions::builder().unsafe_(true).build(),