diff --git a/WHATSNEW b/WHATSNEW
index fd4f66d18..0fd37f8f1 100644
--- a/WHATSNEW
+++ b/WHATSNEW
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ Fixed bugs:
    the jarjar links task and protentially other third-party subclasses
    as well.
    Bugzilla Report 48541.
+   
+ * <scp> task didn't report build file location when a remote operation failed
+   Bugzilla Report 48578.  
 
 Other changes:
 --------------
diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/ssh/Scp.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/ssh/Scp.java
index 8a8dad234..67421d964 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/ssh/Scp.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/ssh/Scp.java
@@ -235,7 +235,15 @@ public class Scp extends SSHBase {
             }
         } catch (Exception e) {
             if (getFailonerror()) {
-                throw new BuildException(e);
+                if(e instanceof BuildException) {
+                    BuildException be = (BuildException) e;
+                    if(be.getLocation() == null) {
+                        be.setLocation(getLocation());
+                    }
+                    throw be;
+                } else {
+                    throw new BuildException(e);
+                }
             } else {
                 log("Caught exception: " + e.getMessage(), Project.MSG_ERR);
             }