diff --git a/pisi/__init__.py b/pisi/__init__.py
index a0313b84..7324fa26 100644
--- a/pisi/__init__.py
+++ b/pisi/__init__.py
@@ -16,11 +16,23 @@ __all__ = [ 'api', 'packagedb', 'installdb' ]
 
 class Error(Exception):
     """Class of exceptions that lead to program termination"""
-    pass
+    def __str__(self):
+        s = ''
+        for x in self.args:
+            if s != '':
+                s += '\n'
+            s += x.encode('utf-8')
+        return s
 
 class Exception(Exception):
     """Class of exceptions that must be caught and handled within PISI"""
-    pass
+    def __str__(self):
+        s = ''
+        for x in self.args:
+            if s != '':
+                s += '\n'
+            s += x.encode('utf-8')
+        return s
 
 # FIXME: can't do this due to name clashes in config and other singletons booo
 #from pisi.api import *