diff --git a/jenkins/__init__.py b/jenkins/__init__.py
index ac43cdf..c7ad650 100644
--- a/jenkins/__init__.py
+++ b/jenkins/__init__.py
@@ -235,9 +235,14 @@ class Jenkins(object):
             # Jenkins's funky authentication means its nigh impossible to
             # distinguish errors.
             if e.code in [401, 403, 500]:
+                # six.moves.urllib.error.HTTPError provides a 'reason'
+                # attribute for all python version except for ver 2.6
+                # Falling back to HTTPError.msg since it contains the
+                # same info as reason
                 raise JenkinsException(
-                    'Error in request.' +
-                    'Possibly authentication failed [%s]' % (e.code)
+                    'Error in request. ' +
+                    'Possibly authentication failed [%s]: %s' % (
+                        e.code, e.msg)
                 )
             # right now I'm getting 302 infinites on a successful delete
 
diff --git a/tests/test_jenkins.py b/tests/test_jenkins.py
index e054387..c28b8f4 100644
--- a/tests/test_jenkins.py
+++ b/tests/test_jenkins.py
@@ -156,7 +156,8 @@ class JenkinsTest(unittest.TestCase):
             j.jenkins_open(request, add_crumb=False)
         self.assertEqual(
             str(context_manager.exception),
-            'Error in request.Possibly authentication failed [401]')
+            'Error in request. Possibly authentication failed [401]: '
+            'basic auth failed')
         self.assertEqual(
             jenkins_mock.call_args[0][0].get_full_url(),
             'http://example.com/job/TestJob')