diff --git a/src/applications/metamta/PhabricatorMetaMTAWorker.php b/src/applications/metamta/PhabricatorMetaMTAWorker.php
--- a/src/applications/metamta/PhabricatorMetaMTAWorker.php
+++ b/src/applications/metamta/PhabricatorMetaMTAWorker.php
@@ -13,10 +13,6 @@
 
   protected function doWork() {
     $message = $this->loadMessage();
-    if (!$message) {
-      throw new PhabricatorWorkerPermanentFailureException(
-        pht('Unable to load message!'));
-    }
 
     if ($message->getStatus() != PhabricatorMailOutboundStatus::STATUS_QUEUE) {
       return;
@@ -32,7 +28,18 @@
 
   private function loadMessage() {
     $message_id = $this->getTaskData();
-    return id(new PhabricatorMetaMTAMail())->load($message_id);
+    $message = id(new PhabricatorMetaMTAMail())
+      ->load($message_id);
+
+    if (!$message) {
+      throw new PhabricatorWorkerPermanentFailureException(
+        pht(
+          'Unable to load mail message (with ID "%s") while preparing to '.
+          'deliver it.',
+          $message_id));
+    }
+
+    return $message;
   }
 
   public function renderForDisplay(PhabricatorUser $viewer) {
diff --git a/src/infrastructure/daemon/workers/PhabricatorTaskmasterDaemon.php b/src/infrastructure/daemon/workers/PhabricatorTaskmasterDaemon.php
--- a/src/infrastructure/daemon/workers/PhabricatorTaskmasterDaemon.php
+++ b/src/infrastructure/daemon/workers/PhabricatorTaskmasterDaemon.php
@@ -23,11 +23,15 @@
           $ex = $task->getExecutionException();
           if ($ex) {
             if ($ex instanceof PhabricatorWorkerPermanentFailureException) {
-              $this->log(
+              // NOTE: Make sure these reach the daemon log, even when not
+              // running in "phd.verbose" mode. See T12803 for discussion.
+              $log_exception = new PhutilProxyException(
                 pht(
-                  'Task %d was cancelled: %s',
-                  $id,
-                  $ex->getMessage()));
+                  'Task "%s" encountered a permanent failure and was '.
+                  'cancelled.',
+                  $id),
+                $ex);
+              phlog($log_exception);
             } else if ($ex instanceof PhabricatorWorkerYieldException) {
               $this->log(pht('Task %s yielded.', $id));
             } else {