diff --git a/backend/src/routes/devices.ts b/backend/src/routes/devices.ts
index 59e0c91..1e6a31c 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/devices.ts
+++ b/backend/src/routes/devices.ts
@@ -1793,19 +1793,24 @@ router.post('/:id/tools/capture', requireWrite, async (req: Request, res: Respon
   const client = makeToolClient(device);
 
   try {
+    console.log(`[capture] connecting to device ${device.id} (${device.ip_address})`);
     await client.connect();
+    console.log(`[capture] connected; configuring sniffer`);
     // Stop any previous capture before reconfiguring
     await client.execute('/tool/sniffer/stop').catch(() => {});
     const setParams: Record<string, string> = { 'file-name': fileName, 'file-limit': '10240' };
     if (iface) setParams['interface'] = iface;
     if (filter_ip) setParams['filter-ip-address'] = filter_ip;
     await client.execute('/tool/sniffer/set', setParams);
+    console.log(`[capture] sniffer configured; starting ${captureSec}s capture`);
     await client.execute('/tool/sniffer/start');
     await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, captureSec * 1000));
     await client.execute('/tool/sniffer/stop').catch(() => {});
     client.disconnect();
+    console.log(`[capture] sniffer stopped; waiting for file flush`);
     // Allow RouterOS a moment to flush the PCAP file before SFTP download
     await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 2000));
+    console.log(`[capture] opening SFTP to ${device.ip_address}:${device.ssh_port ?? 22} path=${remotePath}`);
 
     // Download PCAP via SFTP then delete remote file
     const pcapBuffer = await new Promise<Buffer>((resolve, reject) => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/device-detail/ToolsTab.tsx b/frontend/src/components/device-detail/ToolsTab.tsx
index 851c6fb..e30c139 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/device-detail/ToolsTab.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/device-detail/ToolsTab.tsx
@@ -407,8 +407,20 @@ function PacketCaptureTool({ deviceId, interfaces }: { deviceId: number; interfa
       setFileName(name);
       setReady(true);
     } catch (e: unknown) {
-      const msg = (e as { response?: { data?: { error?: string } } })?.response?.data?.error;
-      setError(msg || (e as Error).message || 'Capture failed');
+      // responseType:'blob' means error bodies arrive as Blobs — parse them back to text
+      const blobData = (e as { response?: { data?: unknown } })?.response?.data;
+      if (blobData instanceof Blob) {
+        try {
+          const text = await blobData.text();
+          const json = JSON.parse(text) as { error?: string };
+          setError(json.error || text || 'Capture failed');
+        } catch {
+          setError('Capture failed');
+        }
+      } else {
+        const msg = (e as { response?: { data?: { error?: string } } })?.response?.data?.error;
+        setError(msg || (e as Error).message || 'Capture failed');
+      }
     } finally {
       setLoading(false);
     }