Component failures are reported using a radio-frequency identification tag associated with an electronic component of a computer system installed on a common communications bus and power bus among at least one other electronic component wherein failure of a component may cause disruption of the power bus, the communications bus, or both busses; a system-level diagnostic function within the computer system but external to the first electronic component receiving a diagnostic failure indication from the first electronic component, and responsive to receipt of the diagnostic failure indication, sending a latching signal to the first electronic component; and a latch controllable by the latching signal, the latch having at least two stable modes including an unlatched mode which prevents the tag from transmitting signals upon query by a radio-frequency identification reader, and a latched mode which enables the tag to transmit signals upon query by a radio-frequency identification reader.