diff --git a/hal/src/main/native/athena/LEDs.cpp b/hal/src/main/native/athena/LEDs.cpp
index 8fa603e0fa0..0091602f4c9 100644
--- a/hal/src/main/native/athena/LEDs.cpp
+++ b/hal/src/main/native/athena/LEDs.cpp
@@ -8,8 +8,11 @@
 
 #include <fstream>
 
+#include <fmt/format.h>
+#include <fmt/std.h>
 #include <wpi/fs.h>
 
+#include "HALInternal.h"
 #include "hal/Errors.h"
 
 namespace hal::init {
@@ -34,13 +37,20 @@ void HAL_SetRadioLEDState(HAL_RadioLEDState state, int32_t* status) {
   fs::file_t greenFile = fs::OpenFileForWrite(radioLEDGreenFilePath, ec,
                                               fs::CD_OpenExisting, fs::OF_Text);
   if (ec) {
+    // not opened, nothing to clean up
     *status = INCOMPATIBLE_STATE;
+    hal::SetLastError(status, fmt::format("Could not open '{}' for write: {}",
+                                          greenFile, ec.message()));
     return;
   }
   fs::file_t redFile = fs::OpenFileForWrite(radioLEDRedFilePath, ec,
                                             fs::CD_OpenExisting, fs::OF_Text);
   if (ec) {
+    // green file opened successfully, need to close it
+    fs::CloseFile(greenFile);
     *status = INCOMPATIBLE_STATE;
+    hal::SetLastError(status, fmt::format("Could not open '{}' for write: {}",
+                                          greenFile, ec.message()));
     return;
   }
 
@@ -55,6 +65,8 @@ bool ReadStateFromFile(fs::path path, int32_t* status) {
   std::error_code ec;
   fs::file_t file = fs::OpenFileForRead(path, ec, fs::OF_Text);
   if (ec) {
+    hal::SetLastError(status, fmt::format("Could not open '{}' for read: {}",
+                                          path, ec.message()));
     *status = INCOMPATIBLE_STATE;
     return false;
   }