diff --git a/guix/serialization.scm b/guix/serialization.scm
index 64eacf9..d3bdea3 100644
--- a/guix/serialization.scm
+++ b/guix/serialization.scm
@@ -292,19 +292,21 @@ Restore it as FILE."
     (define (read-eof-marker)
       (match (read-string port)
         (")" #t)
-        (x (raise
+        (x
+         (pk 'bad-eof x)
+         (raise
             (condition
              (&message (message "invalid nar end-of-file marker"))
              (&nar-read-error (port port) (file file) (token x)))))))
 
     (match (list (read-string port) (read-string port) (read-string port))
       (("(" "type" "regular")
-       (call-with-output-file file (cut read-contents port <>))
+       (call-with-output-file (pk 'reg file) (cut read-contents port <>))
        (read-eof-marker))
       (("(" "type" "symlink")
        (match (list (read-string port) (read-string port))
          (("target" target)
-          (symlink target file)
+          (symlink target (pk 'symlink file))
           (read-eof-marker))
          (x (raise
              (condition
@@ -312,7 +314,7 @@ Restore it as FILE."
               (&nar-read-error (port port) (file file) (token x)))))))
       (("(" "type" "directory")
        (let ((dir file))
-         (mkdir dir)
+         (mkdir (pk 'dir dir))
          (let loop ((prefix (read-string port)))
            (match prefix
              ("entry"