diff --git a/drivers/net/sfc/sfc_flow.c b/drivers/net/sfc/sfc_flow.c
index 0bfd284c9e..c8dc8222dc 100644
--- a/drivers/net/sfc/sfc_flow.c
+++ b/drivers/net/sfc/sfc_flow.c
@@ -1123,84 +1123,84 @@ sfc_flow_parse_pppoex(const struct rte_flow_item *item,
 
 static const struct sfc_flow_item sfc_flow_items[] = {
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_VOID,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(VOID),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_ANY_LAYER,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_ANY_LAYER,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_FILTER,
 		.parse = sfc_flow_parse_void,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_ETH,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(ETH),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_START_LAYER,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L2,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_FILTER,
 		.parse = sfc_flow_parse_eth,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_VLAN,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(VLAN),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L2,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L2,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_FILTER,
 		.parse = sfc_flow_parse_vlan,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_PPPOED,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(PPPOED),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L2,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L2,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_FILTER,
 		.parse = sfc_flow_parse_pppoex,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_PPPOES,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(PPPOES),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L2,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L2,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_FILTER,
 		.parse = sfc_flow_parse_pppoex,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_IPV4,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(IPV4),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L2,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L3,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_FILTER,
 		.parse = sfc_flow_parse_ipv4,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_IPV6,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(IPV6),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L2,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L3,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_FILTER,
 		.parse = sfc_flow_parse_ipv6,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_TCP,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(TCP),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L3,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L4,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_FILTER,
 		.parse = sfc_flow_parse_tcp,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_UDP,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(UDP),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L3,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L4,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_FILTER,
 		.parse = sfc_flow_parse_udp,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_VXLAN,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(VXLAN),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L4,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_START_LAYER,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_FILTER,
 		.parse = sfc_flow_parse_vxlan,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_GENEVE,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(GENEVE),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L4,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_START_LAYER,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_FILTER,
 		.parse = sfc_flow_parse_geneve,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_NVGRE,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(NVGRE),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L3,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_START_LAYER,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_FILTER,
@@ -1296,7 +1296,8 @@ sfc_flow_get_item(const struct sfc_flow_item *items,
 }
 
 int
-sfc_flow_parse_pattern(const struct sfc_flow_item *flow_items,
+sfc_flow_parse_pattern(struct sfc_adapter *sa,
+		       const struct sfc_flow_item *flow_items,
 		       unsigned int nb_flow_items,
 		       const struct rte_flow_item pattern[],
 		       struct sfc_flow_parse_ctx *parse_ctx,
@@ -1380,8 +1381,11 @@ sfc_flow_parse_pattern(const struct sfc_flow_item *flow_items,
 		}
 
 		rc = item->parse(pattern, parse_ctx, error);
-		if (rc != 0)
+		if (rc != 0) {
+			sfc_err(sa, "failed to parse item %s: %s",
+				item->name, strerror(-rc));
 			return rc;
+		}
 
 		if (item->layer != SFC_FLOW_ITEM_ANY_LAYER)
 			prev_layer = item->layer;
@@ -2477,7 +2481,7 @@ sfc_flow_parse_rte_to_filter(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 	ctx.type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_FILTER;
 	ctx.filter = &spec_filter->template;
 
-	rc = sfc_flow_parse_pattern(sfc_flow_items, RTE_DIM(sfc_flow_items),
+	rc = sfc_flow_parse_pattern(sa, sfc_flow_items, RTE_DIM(sfc_flow_items),
 				    pattern, &ctx, error);
 	if (rc != 0)
 		goto fail_bad_value;
diff --git a/drivers/net/sfc/sfc_flow.h b/drivers/net/sfc/sfc_flow.h
index bd3b374d68..5b1f34aa7a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/sfc/sfc_flow.h
+++ b/drivers/net/sfc/sfc_flow.h
@@ -136,13 +136,21 @@ typedef int (sfc_flow_item_parse)(const struct rte_flow_item *item,
 
 struct sfc_flow_item {
 	enum rte_flow_item_type type;		/* Type of item */
+	const char *name;			/* Item name */
 	enum sfc_flow_item_layers layer;	/* Layer of item */
 	enum sfc_flow_item_layers prev_layer;	/* Previous layer of item */
 	enum sfc_flow_parse_ctx_type ctx_type;	/* Parse context type */
 	sfc_flow_item_parse *parse;		/* Parsing function */
 };
 
-int sfc_flow_parse_pattern(const struct sfc_flow_item *flow_items,
+#define SFC_FLOW_ITEM(_name) \
+	.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_##_name,	\
+	.name = #_name
+
+struct sfc_adapter;
+
+int sfc_flow_parse_pattern(struct sfc_adapter *sa,
+			   const struct sfc_flow_item *flow_items,
 			   unsigned int nb_flow_items,
 			   const struct rte_flow_item pattern[],
 			   struct sfc_flow_parse_ctx *parse_ctx,
@@ -156,8 +164,6 @@ int sfc_flow_parse_init(const struct rte_flow_item *item,
 			unsigned int size,
 			struct rte_flow_error *error);
 
-struct sfc_adapter;
-
 void sfc_flow_init(struct sfc_adapter *sa);
 void sfc_flow_fini(struct sfc_adapter *sa);
 int sfc_flow_start(struct sfc_adapter *sa);
diff --git a/drivers/net/sfc/sfc_mae.c b/drivers/net/sfc/sfc_mae.c
index 56b949ddf7..a005d9b1a4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/sfc/sfc_mae.c
+++ b/drivers/net/sfc/sfc_mae.c
@@ -1828,7 +1828,7 @@ sfc_mae_rule_parse_item_tunnel(const struct rte_flow_item *item,
 
 static const struct sfc_flow_item sfc_flow_items[] = {
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_PORT_ID,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(PORT_ID),
 		/*
 		 * In terms of RTE flow, this item is a META one,
 		 * and its position in the pattern is don't care.
@@ -1839,7 +1839,7 @@ static const struct sfc_flow_item sfc_flow_items[] = {
 		.parse = sfc_mae_rule_parse_item_port_id,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_PHY_PORT,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(PHY_PORT),
 		/*
 		 * In terms of RTE flow, this item is a META one,
 		 * and its position in the pattern is don't care.
@@ -1850,7 +1850,7 @@ static const struct sfc_flow_item sfc_flow_items[] = {
 		.parse = sfc_mae_rule_parse_item_phy_port,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_PF,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(PF),
 		/*
 		 * In terms of RTE flow, this item is a META one,
 		 * and its position in the pattern is don't care.
@@ -1861,7 +1861,7 @@ static const struct sfc_flow_item sfc_flow_items[] = {
 		.parse = sfc_mae_rule_parse_item_pf,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_VF,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(VF),
 		/*
 		 * In terms of RTE flow, this item is a META one,
 		 * and its position in the pattern is don't care.
@@ -1872,63 +1872,63 @@ static const struct sfc_flow_item sfc_flow_items[] = {
 		.parse = sfc_mae_rule_parse_item_vf,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_ETH,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(ETH),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_START_LAYER,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L2,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_MAE,
 		.parse = sfc_mae_rule_parse_item_eth,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_VLAN,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(VLAN),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L2,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L2,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_MAE,
 		.parse = sfc_mae_rule_parse_item_vlan,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_IPV4,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(IPV4),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L2,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L3,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_MAE,
 		.parse = sfc_mae_rule_parse_item_ipv4,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_IPV6,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(IPV6),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L2,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L3,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_MAE,
 		.parse = sfc_mae_rule_parse_item_ipv6,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_TCP,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(TCP),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L3,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L4,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_MAE,
 		.parse = sfc_mae_rule_parse_item_tcp,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_UDP,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(UDP),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L3,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L4,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_MAE,
 		.parse = sfc_mae_rule_parse_item_udp,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_VXLAN,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(VXLAN),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L4,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_START_LAYER,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_MAE,
 		.parse = sfc_mae_rule_parse_item_tunnel,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_GENEVE,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(GENEVE),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L4,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_START_LAYER,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_MAE,
 		.parse = sfc_mae_rule_parse_item_tunnel,
 	},
 	{
-		.type = RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_NVGRE,
+		SFC_FLOW_ITEM(NVGRE),
 		.prev_layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_L3,
 		.layer = SFC_FLOW_ITEM_START_LAYER,
 		.ctx_type = SFC_FLOW_PARSE_CTX_MAE,
@@ -2137,7 +2137,7 @@ sfc_mae_rule_parse_pattern(struct sfc_adapter *sa,
 	if (rc != 0)
 		goto fail_encap_parse_init;
 
-	rc = sfc_flow_parse_pattern(sfc_flow_items, RTE_DIM(sfc_flow_items),
+	rc = sfc_flow_parse_pattern(sa, sfc_flow_items, RTE_DIM(sfc_flow_items),
 				    pattern, &ctx, error);
 	if (rc != 0)
 		goto fail_parse_pattern;
@@ -2728,6 +2728,27 @@ sfc_mae_rule_parse_action_port_id(struct sfc_adapter *sa,
 	return rc;
 }
 
+static const char * const action_names[] = {
+#define SFC_FLOW_ACTION(_name) \
+	[RTE_FLOW_ACTION_TYPE_##_name] = #_name
+
+	SFC_FLOW_ACTION(VXLAN_DECAP),
+	SFC_FLOW_ACTION(OF_POP_VLAN),
+	SFC_FLOW_ACTION(OF_PUSH_VLAN),
+	SFC_FLOW_ACTION(OF_SET_VLAN_VID),
+	SFC_FLOW_ACTION(OF_SET_VLAN_PCP),
+	SFC_FLOW_ACTION(VXLAN_ENCAP),
+	SFC_FLOW_ACTION(FLAG),
+	SFC_FLOW_ACTION(MARK),
+	SFC_FLOW_ACTION(PHY_PORT),
+	SFC_FLOW_ACTION(PF),
+	SFC_FLOW_ACTION(VF),
+	SFC_FLOW_ACTION(PORT_ID),
+	SFC_FLOW_ACTION(DROP),
+
+#undef SFC_FLOW_ACTION
+};
+
 static int
 sfc_mae_rule_parse_action(struct sfc_adapter *sa,
 			  const struct rte_flow_action *action,
@@ -2821,6 +2842,14 @@ sfc_mae_rule_parse_action(struct sfc_adapter *sa,
 	if (rc == 0) {
 		bundle->actions_mask |= (1ULL << action->type);
 	} else if (!custom_error) {
+		if (action->type < RTE_DIM(action_names)) {
+			const char *action_name = action_names[action->type];
+
+			if (action_name != NULL) {
+				sfc_err(sa, "action %s was rejected: %s",
+					action_name, strerror(rc));
+			}
+		}
 		rc = rte_flow_error_set(error, rc, RTE_FLOW_ERROR_TYPE_ACTION,
 				NULL, "Failed to request the action");
 	}
