diff --git a/src/FDM/fdm_shell.cxx b/src/FDM/fdm_shell.cxx
index 401483e4b..5fa77d895 100644
--- a/src/FDM/fdm_shell.cxx
+++ b/src/FDM/fdm_shell.cxx
@@ -94,9 +94,9 @@ void FDMShell::bind()
     if (_impl->get_bound()) {
       throw sg_exception("FDMShell::bind of bound FGInterface impl");
     }
-    _tankProperties.bind();
     _impl->bind();
   }
+  _tankProperties.bind();
 }
 
 void FDMShell::unbind()
diff --git a/src/Network/generic.cxx b/src/Network/generic.cxx
index 1ed607a39..71ae5a874 100644
--- a/src/Network/generic.cxx
+++ b/src/Network/generic.cxx
@@ -541,9 +541,9 @@ FGGeneric::reinit()
     SGPropertyNode root;
     try {
         readProperties(path.str(), &root);
-    } catch (const sg_exception &) {
+    } catch (const sg_exception & ex) {
         SG_LOG(SG_GENERAL, SG_ALERT,
-         "Unable to load the protocol configuration file");
+         "Unable to load the protocol configuration file: " << ex.getFormattedMessage() );
          return;
     }