diff --git a/writer.go b/writer.go
index 86a709ab0..d03abd209 100644
--- a/writer.go
+++ b/writer.go
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ func open(paths []string) ([]zapcore.WriteSyncer, func(), error) {
 	for _, path := range paths {
 		sink, err := newSink(path)
 		if err != nil {
-			openErr = multierr.Append(openErr, fmt.Errorf("couldn't open sink %q: %v", path, err))
+			openErr = multierr.Append(openErr, fmt.Errorf("couldn't open sink %q: %w", path, err))
 			continue
 		}
 		writers = append(writers, sink)