diff --git a/src/util.cc b/src/util.cc
index 5ad34f9..44a24ac 100644
--- a/src/util.cc
+++ b/src/util.cc
@@ -1360,7 +1360,7 @@ void logAlarm(string type, string msg)
     envs.push_back("ALARM_TYPE="+type);
     envs.push_back("ALARM_MESSAGE="+msg);
 
-    warning("(alarm) %s %s\n", type.c_str(), msg.c_str());
+    warning("(alarm) %s: %s\n", type.c_str(), msg.c_str());
 
     for (auto &s : alarm_shells_)
     {
diff --git a/src/wmbus.cc b/src/wmbus.cc
index 4100104..81fdc6c 100644
--- a/src/wmbus.cc
+++ b/src/wmbus.cc
@@ -3434,7 +3434,7 @@ void WMBusCommonImplementation::checkStatus()
     if (protocol_error_count_ >= 20)
     {
         string msg;
-        strprintf(msg, "Hit max protocol errors(%d)! Resetting device %s %s!", protocol_error_count_, toString(type()), device().c_str());
+        strprintf(msg, "too many protocol errors(%d) resetting %s %s", protocol_error_count_, device().c_str(), toString(type()));
         logAlarm("device_failure", msg);
         bool ok = reset();
         if (ok)
@@ -3444,7 +3444,7 @@ void WMBusCommonImplementation::checkStatus()
             return;
         }
 
-        strprintf(msg, "Failed to reset wmbus device %s %s! Emergency exit!", toString(type()), device().c_str());
+        strprintf(msg, "failed to reset wmbus device %s %s exiting wmbusmeters", device().c_str(), toString(type()));
         logAlarm("device_failure", msg);
         manager_->stop();
         return;
@@ -3473,10 +3473,10 @@ void WMBusCommonImplementation::checkStatus()
         string now = strdatetime(&nowtm);
 
         string msg;
-        strprintf(msg, "Hit timeout(%d s) and %s is within expected activity (%s)!"
-                  " Now %d seconds since last telegram was received! Resetting device %s %s!",
-                  timeout_, now.c_str(), expected_activity_.c_str(),
-                  since, toString(type()), device().c_str());
+        strprintf(msg, "%d seconds of inactivity resetting %s %s "
+                  "(timeout %ds expected %s now %s)",
+                  since, device().c_str(), toString(type()),
+                  timeout_, expected_activity_.c_str(), now.c_str());
 
         logAlarm("inactivity", msg);
 
@@ -3487,7 +3487,7 @@ void WMBusCommonImplementation::checkStatus()
         }
         else
         {
-            strprintf(msg, "Failed to reset wmbus device %s %s! Emergency exit!", toString(type()), device().c_str());
+            strprintf(msg, "failed to reset wmbus device %s %s exiting wmbusmeters", device().c_str(), toString(type()));
             logAlarm("device_failure", msg);
             manager_->stop();
         }
diff --git a/tests/test_alarm.sh b/tests/test_alarm.sh
index 6bd9ba7..6cc8017 100755
--- a/tests/test_alarm.sh
+++ b/tests/test_alarm.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ echo "RUNNING $TESTNAME ..."
 $PROG --useconfig=tests/config7 --device=simulations/simulation_alarm.txt | sed 's/....-..-.. ..:../1111-11-11 11:11/' > $TEST/test_output.txt
 
 cat > $TEST/test_expected.txt <<EOF
-(alarm) TIMEOUT_ERROR Hit timeout(1 s) and 1111-11-11 11:11 is within expected activity (mon-sun(00-23))! Now 2 seconds since last telegram was received! Resetting device DEVICE_SIMULATOR simulations/simulation_alarm.txt!
+(alarm) inactivity: 2 seconds of inactivity resetting simulations/simulation_alarm.txt DEVICE_SIMULATOR (timeout 1s expected mon-sun(00-23) now 1111-11-11 11:11)
 (wmbus) successfully reset wmbus device
 EOF
 
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ METER =={"media":"cold water","meter":"multical21","name":"Water","id":"76348799
 EOF
 
 cat > /tmp/wmbusmeters_alarm_expected <<EOF
-ALARM_SHELL TIMEOUT_ERROR Hit timeout(1 s) and 1111-11-11 11:11 is within expected activity (mon-sun(00-23))! Now 2 seconds since last telegram was received! Resetting device DEVICE_SIMULATOR simulations/simulation_alarm.txt!
+ALARM_SHELL inactivity 2 seconds of inactivity resetting simulations/simulation_alarm.txt DEVICE_SIMULATOR (timeout 1s expected mon-sun(00-23) now 1111-11-11 11:11)
 EOF
 
 REST=$(diff $TEST/test_output.txt $TEST/test_expected.txt)