diff --git a/core/lib/src/error.rs b/core/lib/src/error.rs
index f08e94ad..60bbdd87 100644
--- a/core/lib/src/error.rs
+++ b/core/lib/src/error.rs
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ impl Error {
         match result {
             Ok(_) => process::ExitCode::SUCCESS,
             Err(e) => {
-                span_error!("error", "aborting launch due to error" => e.trace_error());
+                span_error!("launch failure", "aborting launch due to error" => e.trace_error());
                 process::ExitCode::SUCCESS
             }
         }
diff --git a/core/lib/src/trace/traceable.rs b/core/lib/src/trace/traceable.rs
index 19b8c8b5..fa3f6850 100644
--- a/core/lib/src/trace/traceable.rs
+++ b/core/lib/src/trace/traceable.rs
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ impl Trace for ErrorKind {
                 });
             }
             FailedFairings(fairings) => {
-                let span = span!(level, "fairings", count = fairings.len(), "ignition failure");
+                let span = span!(level, "failed ignite fairings", count = fairings.len());
                 span.in_scope(|| fairings.iter().trace_all(level));
             },
             SentinelAborts(sentries) => {