diff --git a/qwarc/warc.py b/qwarc/warc.py
index 8241850..acb081b 100644
--- a/qwarc/warc.py
+++ b/qwarc/warc.py
@@ -79,7 +79,8 @@ class WARC:
 		except OSError as e:
 			if e.errno == errno.EWOULDBLOCK:
 				logging.error(f'{filename}.qwarcjournal is already locked!')
-				raise RuntimeError(f'Unable to lock journal file {filename}.qwarcjournal')
+				raise RuntimeError(f'Unable to lock journal file {filename}.qwarcjournal') from e
+			raise
 		self._journalClean = True
 
 	def _write_record(self, record):