diff --git a/source/src/openal.cpp b/source/src/openal.cpp
index db9505a1..ffcda03e 100644
--- a/source/src/openal.cpp
+++ b/source/src/openal.cpp
@@ -134,14 +134,14 @@ bool source::gain(float g)
 {
     alclearerr();
     alSourcef(id, AL_GAIN, g);
-    return !ALERR;
+    return !ALERRF("gain: %f", g);
 }
 
 bool source::pitch(float p)
 {
     alclearerr();
     alSourcef(id, AL_PITCH, p);
-    return !ALERR;
+    return !ALERRF("pitch: %f", p);
 }
 
 bool source::position(const vec &pos)
@@ -153,14 +153,16 @@ bool source::position(float x, float y, float z)
 {
     alclearerr();
     alSource3f(id, AL_POSITION, x, y, z);
-    return !ALERR;
+    if(x < 0 || y < 0 || z < -128 || x > ssize || y > ssize || z > 128) clientlogf("warning: sound position out of range (%f,%f,%f)", x, y, z);
+    return !ALERRF("id %u, %d, x: %f, y: %f, z: %f", id, alIsSource(id) == AL_TRUE ? 1 : 0,  x, y, z);
+//    return !ALERRF("x: %f, y: %f, z: %f", x, y, z);   // when sound bug has been absent for a while, switch to this version
 }
 
 bool source::velocity(float x, float y, float z)
 {
     alclearerr();
     alSource3f(id, AL_VELOCITY, x, y, z);
-    return !ALERR;
+    return !ALERRF("dx: %f, dy: %f, dz: %f", x, y, z);
 }
 
 vec source::position()
@@ -391,7 +393,7 @@ void alclearerr()
     alGetError();
 }
 
-bool alerr(bool msg, int line)
+bool alerr(bool msg, int line, const char *s, ...)
 {
     ALenum er = alGetError();
     if(er && msg)
@@ -405,7 +407,12 @@ bool alerr(bool msg, int line)
             case AL_INVALID_OPERATION: desc = "invalid operation"; break;
             case AL_OUT_OF_MEMORY: desc = "out of memory"; break;
         }
-        if(line) conoutf("\f3OpenAL Error (%X): %s, line %d", er, desc, line);
+        if(s)
+        {
+            defvformatstring(p, s, s);
+            conoutf("\f3OpenAL Error (%X): %s, line %d, (%s)", er, desc, line, p);
+        }
+        else if(line) conoutf("\f3OpenAL Error (%X): %s, line %d", er, desc, line);
         else conoutf("\f3OpenAL Error (%X): %s", er, desc);
     }
     return er > 0;
diff --git a/source/src/renderparticles.cpp b/source/src/renderparticles.cpp
index 6e76f914..bc1815f0 100644
--- a/source/src/renderparticles.cpp
+++ b/source/src/renderparticles.cpp
@@ -675,6 +675,7 @@ void addshotline(dynent *pl, const vec &from, const vec &to)
     int start = (camera1->o.dist(to) <= 10.0f) ? 8 : 5;
     vec unitv;
     float dist = to.dist(from, unitv);
+    if(dist < 1) return;
     unitv.div(dist);
 
     // shotline visuals
diff --git a/source/src/sound.h b/source/src/sound.h
index fdade21c..648c8b14 100644
--- a/source/src/sound.h
+++ b/source/src/sound.h
@@ -438,8 +438,9 @@ public:
 };
 
 void alclearerr();
-bool alerr(bool msg = true, int line = 0);
+bool alerr(bool msg = true, int line = 0, const char *s = NULL, ...);
 #define ALERR alerr(true, __LINE__)
+#define ALERRF(fmt, ...) alerr(true, __LINE__, fmt, __VA_ARGS__)
 
 extern vector<soundconfig> gamesounds, mapsounds;
 extern ov_callbacks oggcallbacks;