diff --git a/modules/core/src/system.cpp b/modules/core/src/system.cpp
index 36a3ecc724..11e12b0724 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/system.cpp
+++ b/modules/core/src/system.cpp
@@ -248,9 +248,9 @@ const char* Exception::what() const throw() { return msg.c_str(); }
 void Exception::formatMessage()
 {
     if( func.size() > 0 )
-        msg = format("OpenCV(%s) %s:%d: error: (%d) %s in function %s\n", CV_VERSION, file.c_str(), line, code, err.c_str(), func.c_str());
+        msg = format("OpenCV(%s) %s:%d: error: (%d) %s: %s in function %s\n", CV_VERSION, file.c_str(), line, code, cvErrorStr(code), err.c_str(), func.c_str());
     else
-        msg = format("OpenCV(%s) %s:%d: error: (%d) %s\n", CV_VERSION, file.c_str(), line, code, err.c_str());
+        msg = format("OpenCV(%s) %s:%d: error: (%d) %s: %s\n", CV_VERSION, file.c_str(), line, code, cvErrorStr(code), err.c_str());
 }
 
 static const char* g_hwFeatureNames[CV_HARDWARE_MAX_FEATURE] = { NULL };