diff --git a/ResourceFiles/ResourceFork.h b/ResourceFiles/ResourceFork.h
index ece133d6ac..a7d01fc4a7 100644
--- a/ResourceFiles/ResourceFork.h
+++ b/ResourceFiles/ResourceFork.h
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ public:
 	void writeFork(std::ostream& out) const;
 	void addResource(Resource res) { resources[res.getTypeAndID()] = res; }
 	void addResources(const Resources& res);
+
+	unsigned countResources() const { return resources.size(); }
 };
 
 #endif // RESOURCEFORK_H
diff --git a/Rez/Rez.cc b/Rez/Rez.cc
index 06a7c1208e..09dbb4f6ed 100644
--- a/Rez/Rez.cc
+++ b/Rez/Rez.cc
@@ -23,6 +23,21 @@ static void usage()
 	std::cerr << desc << std::endl;
 }
 
+static void CopyBinaryResources(RezWorld& world, const std::string& fn)
+{
+	ResourceFile copyRsrc(fn);
+	if(!copyRsrc.read())
+	{
+		world.problem(Diagnostic(Diagnostic::error, "Could not read binary resource file " + fn, yy::location()));
+	}
+	else if(world.verboseFlag)
+	{
+		std::cerr << "Read " << copyRsrc.resources.countResources() << " resources from " << fn << "\n";
+	}
+
+	world.getResources().addResources(copyRsrc.resources);
+}
+
 int main(int argc, const char *argv[])
 {
 	desc.add_options()
@@ -84,13 +99,8 @@ int main(int argc, const char *argv[])
 		world.getResources().addResources(rsrcFile.resources);
 	}
 	if(options.count("copy"))
-		for(std::string copyFile : options["copy"].as<std::vector<std::string>>())
-		{
-			ResourceFile copyRsrc(copyFile);
-
-			copyRsrc.read();
-			world.getResources().addResources(copyRsrc.resources);
-		}
+		for(std::string fn : options["copy"].as<std::vector<std::string>>())
+			CopyBinaryResources(world, fn);
 
 	if(options.count("input"))
 		for(std::string fn : options["input"].as<std::vector<std::string>>())
@@ -98,10 +108,7 @@ int main(int argc, const char *argv[])
 			fs::path path(fn);
 			if(path.extension() == ".rsrc" || path.extension() == ".bin")
 			{
-				ResourceFile copyRsrc(fn);
-
-				copyRsrc.read();
-				world.getResources().addResources(copyRsrc.resources);
+				CopyBinaryResources(world, fn);
 			}
 			else
 			{
@@ -116,6 +123,10 @@ int main(int argc, const char *argv[])
 						for(std::string path : options["include"].as<std::vector<std::string>>())
 							lexer.addIncludePath(path);
 
+					if(world.verboseFlag)
+					{
+						std::cerr << "Compiling " << fn << "...\n";
+					}
 
 					RezParser parser(lexer, world);
 					parser.parse();
@@ -133,6 +144,11 @@ int main(int argc, const char *argv[])
 	rsrcFile.resources = world.getResources();
 	rsrcFile.creator = options["creator"].as<std::string>();
 	rsrcFile.type = options["type"].as<std::string>();
+
+	if(world.verboseFlag)
+	{
+		std::cerr << "Writing " << rsrcFile.resources.countResources() << " resources.\n";
+	}
 	rsrcFile.write();
 
 	if(options.count("cc"))
diff --git a/Rez/RezLexer.cc b/Rez/RezLexer.cc
index 33ed300711..702bfd595d 100644
--- a/Rez/RezLexer.cc
+++ b/Rez/RezLexer.cc
@@ -90,11 +90,24 @@ struct RezLexer::Priv
 	}
 };
 
+static std::string readInitial(RezWorld& world, std::string filename)
+{
+	std::ifstream in(filename);
+	if(!in.is_open())
+	{
+		world.problem(Diagnostic(Diagnostic::error,
+			"could not open " + filename, yy::location()));
+	}
+	return readContents(std::move(in));
+}
+
 RezLexer::RezLexer(RezWorld& world, std::string filename)
-	: RezLexer(world, filename, readContents(std::ifstream(filename)))
+	: RezLexer(world, filename, readInitial(world,filename))
 {
 }
 
+
+
 RezLexer::RezLexer(RezWorld& world, std::string filename, const std::string &data)
 	: world(world), curFile(filename), lastLocation(&curFile)
 {