diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/BuildException.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/BuildException.java
index 05e358600..feebdf9f9 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/BuildException.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/BuildException.java
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ public class BuildException extends RuntimeException {
      */
     
     public BuildException(Exception cause) {
-	super();
+	super(cause.toString());
 	this.cause = cause;
     }
 }