diff --git a/src/tape/changer/email.rs b/src/tape/changer/email.rs
index 9be06196..abd7ead8 100644
--- a/src/tape/changer/email.rs
+++ b/src/tape/changer/email.rs
@@ -7,12 +7,17 @@ pub fn send_load_media_email(
     drive: &str,
     label_text: &str,
     to: &str,
+    reason: Option<String>,
 ) -> Result<(), Error> {
 
     let subject = format!("Load Media '{}' request for drive '{}'", label_text, drive);
 
     let mut text = String::new();
 
+    if let Some(reason) = reason {
+        text.push_str(&format!("The drive has the wrong or no tape inserted. Error:\n{}\n\n", reason));
+    }
+
     text.push_str("Please insert the requested media into the backup drive.\n\n");
 
     text.push_str(&format!("Drive: {}\n", drive));
diff --git a/src/tape/drive/mod.rs b/src/tape/drive/mod.rs
index ba63f4d4..8bbca98c 100644
--- a/src/tape/drive/mod.rs
+++ b/src/tape/drive/mod.rs
@@ -375,18 +375,34 @@ pub fn request_and_load_media(
                         return Ok((handle, media_id));
                     }
 
-                    task_log!(worker, "Please insert media '{}' into drive '{}'", label_text, drive);
 
                     let to = "root@localhost"; // fixme
 
-                    send_load_media_email(drive, &label_text, to)?;
-
                     let mut last_media_uuid = None;
                     let mut last_error = None;
 
+                    let mut tried = false;
+                    let mut failure_reason = None;
+
                     loop {
                         worker.check_abort()?;
 
+                        if tried {
+                            if let Some(reason) = failure_reason {
+                                task_log!(worker, "Please insert media '{}' into drive '{}'", label_text, drive);
+                                send_load_media_email(drive, &label_text, to, Some(reason))?;
+                            }
+
+                            failure_reason = None;
+
+                            for _ in 0..50 { // delay 5 seconds
+                                worker.check_abort()?;
+                                std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(100));
+                            }
+                        }
+
+                        tried = true;
+
                         let mut handle = match drive_config.open() {
                             Ok(handle) => handle,
                             Err(err) => {
@@ -394,10 +410,7 @@ pub fn request_and_load_media(
                                 if Some(err.clone()) != last_error {
                                     task_log!(worker, "tape open failed - {}", err);
                                     last_error = Some(err);
-                                }
-                                for _ in 0..50 { // delay 5 seconds
-                                    worker.check_abort()?;
-                                    std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(100));
+                                    failure_reason = last_error.clone();
                                 }
                                 continue;
                             }
@@ -414,19 +427,22 @@ pub fn request_and_load_media(
                                     );
                                     return Ok((Box::new(handle), media_id));
                                 } else if Some(media_id.label.uuid.clone()) != last_media_uuid {
-                                    task_log!(
-                                        worker,
+                                    let err = format!(
                                         "wrong media label {} ({})",
                                         media_id.label.label_text,
                                         media_id.label.uuid.to_string(),
                                     );
+                                    task_log!(worker, "{}", err);
                                     last_media_uuid = Some(media_id.label.uuid);
+                                    failure_reason = Some(err);
                                 }
                             }
                             Ok((None, _)) => {
                                 if last_media_uuid.is_some() {
-                                    task_log!(worker, "found empty media without label (please label all tapes first)");
+                                    let err = "found empty media without label (please label all tapes first)";
+                                    task_log!(worker, "{}", err);
                                     last_media_uuid = None;
+                                    failure_reason = Some(err.to_string());
                                 }
                             }
                             Err(err) => {
@@ -434,15 +450,10 @@ pub fn request_and_load_media(
                                 if Some(err.clone()) != last_error {
                                     task_log!(worker, "tape open failed - {}", err);
                                     last_error = Some(err);
+                                    failure_reason = last_error.clone();
                                 }
                             }
                         }
-
-                        // eprintln!("read label failed -  test again in 5 secs");
-                        for _ in 0..50 { // delay 5 seconds
-                            worker.check_abort()?;
-                            std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(100));
-                        }
                     }
                 }
                 _ => bail!("drive type '{}' not implemented!"),