diff --git a/nuke.c b/nuke.c
index 18ff983..b92c262 100644
--- a/nuke.c
+++ b/nuke.c
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@
  */
 
 #include "colors.h"
-#include "list.h"
 #include "globe.h"
+#include "list.h"
 #include <curses.h>
+#include <errno.h>
 #include <ftw.h>
 #include <math.h>
 #include <poll.h>
@@ -115,7 +116,12 @@ int unlink_cb(const char *fpath, const struct stat *sb, int typeflag, struct FTW
 
 int rmrf(char *path)
 {
+  DIR *dir;
+  if (!(dir = opendir(path))) {
+    return remove(path);
+  } else {
     return nftw(path, unlink_cb, 64, FTW_DEPTH | FTW_PHYS);
+  }
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[])
@@ -446,7 +452,7 @@ exit_success:
     if (rmrf(argv[i]) == 0) {
       printf("deleted %s\n", argv[i]);
     } else {
-      printf("unable to delete %s\n", argv[i]);
+      printf("unable to delete %s\n (%s)", argv[i], strerror(errno));
       return EXIT_FAILURE;
     }
   }