diff --git a/library/decort_jwt.py b/library/decort_jwt.py
index 9a740da..1d93707 100644
--- a/library/decort_jwt.py
+++ b/library/decort_jwt.py
@@ -132,13 +132,13 @@ def main():
     # catch requests.exceptions.ConnectionError to handle incorrect oauth2_url case
     try:
         token_get_resp = requests.post(token_get_url, data=req_data, verify=amodule.params['verify_ssl'])
-    except requests.exceptions.ConnectionError:
+    except requests.exceptions.ConnectionError as errco:
         result.update(failed=True)
-        result['msg'] = "Failed to connect to {}".format(token_get_url)
+        result['msg'] = "Failed to connect to {}: {}".format(token_get_url, errco)
         amodule.fail_json(**result)
-    except requests.exceptions.Timeout:
+    except requests.exceptions.Timeout as errti:
         result.update(failed=True)
-        result['msg'] = "Timeout when trying to connect to {}".format(token_get_url)
+        result['msg'] = "Timeout when trying to connect to {}: {}".format(token_get_url, errti)
         amodule.fail_json(**result)
 
     # alternative -- if resp == requests.codes.ok
diff --git a/library/decort_kvmvm.py b/library/decort_kvmvm.py
index 1670036..0322b9e 100644
--- a/library/decort_kvmvm.py
+++ b/library/decort_kvmvm.py
@@ -533,7 +533,15 @@ class decort_kvmvm(DecortController):
         else:
             validated_bdisk_size =self.amodule.params['boot_disk']
 
-        start_compute = True
+        # NOTE: due to a libvirt "feature", that impacts management of a VM created without any network interfaces,
+        # we create KVM VM in HALTED state.
+        # Consequently, if desired state is different from 'halted' or 'porewedoff", we should explicitly start it
+        # in the upstream code.
+        # See corresponding NOTE below for another place where this "feature" is redressed for.
+        #
+        # Once this "feature" is fixed, make sure VM is created according to the actual desired state
+        #
+        start_compute = False # change this once a workaround for the aforementioned libvirt "feature" is implemented 
         if self.amodule.params['state'] in ('halted', 'poweredoff'):
             start_compute = False
         
@@ -548,6 +556,7 @@ class decort_kvmvm(DecortController):
 
         # if we get through here, all parameters required to create new Compute instance should be at hand
 
+        # NOTE: KVM VM is created in HALTED state and must be explicitly started
         self.comp_id = self.kvmvm_provision(rg_id=self.rg_id, 
                                     comp_name=self.amodule.params['name'], arch=self.amodule.params['arch'],
                                     cpu=self.amodule.params['cpu'], ram=self.amodule.params['ram'],
@@ -555,7 +564,7 @@ class decort_kvmvm(DecortController):
                                     image_id=image_facts['id'],
                                     annotation=self.amodule.params['annotation'],
                                     userdata=cloud_init_params,
-                                    start_on_create=start_compute)
+                                    start_on_create=start_compute) 
         self.comp_should_exist = True
         
         # Need to re-read comp_info after VM was provisioned
@@ -568,7 +577,12 @@ class decort_kvmvm(DecortController):
         self.compute_networks(self.comp_info, self.amodule.params['networks']) 
         # Next manage data disks
         self.compute_data_disks(self.comp_info, self.amodule.params['data_disks'])
-        # read in Compute facts after all initial setup is complete
+
+        # NOTE: see NOTE above regarding libvirt "feature" and new VMs created in HALTED state
+        if self.amodule.params['state'] not in ('halted', 'poweredoff'):
+            self.compute_powerstate(self.comp_info, 'started')
+        
+        # read in Compute facts once more after all initial setup is complete
         _, self.comp_info, _ = self.compute_find(comp_id=self.comp_id)
 
         return
diff --git a/module_utils/decort_utils.py b/module_utils/decort_utils.py
index 684fee1..a7f3b4f 100644
--- a/module_utils/decort_utils.py
+++ b/module_utils/decort_utils.py
@@ -213,14 +213,14 @@ class DecortController(object):
         # catch requests.exceptions.ConnectionError to handle incorrect oauth2_url case
         try:
             token_get_resp = requests.post(token_get_url, data=req_data, verify=self.verify_ssl)
-        except requests.exceptions.ConnectionError:
+        except requests.exceptions.ConnectionError as errco:
             self.result['failed'] = True
-            self.result['msg'] = "Failed to connect to '{}' to obtain JWT access token".format(token_get_url)
+            self.result['msg'] = "Failed to connect to '{}' to obtain JWT access token: {}".format(token_get_url, errco)
             self.amodule.fail_json(**self.result)
-        except requests.exceptions.Timeout:
+        except requests.exceptions.Timeout as errti:
             self.result['failed'] = True
-            self.result['msg'] = "Timeout when trying to connect to '{}' to obtain JWT access token".format(
-                token_get_url)
+            self.result['msg'] = "Timeout when trying to connect to '{}' to obtain JWT access token: {}".format(
+                token_get_url, errti)
             self.amodule.fail_json(**self.result)
 
         # alternative -- if resp == requests.codes.ok