diff --git a/bashate/bashate.py b/bashate/bashate.py
index 28df02b..c567b60 100644
--- a/bashate/bashate.py
+++ b/bashate/bashate.py
@@ -12,11 +12,15 @@
 # License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
 
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
 import argparse
 import fileinput
 import re
 import sys
 
+from bashate import messages
+
 
 def not_continuation(line):
     return not re.search('\\\\$', line)
@@ -34,30 +38,28 @@ def check_for_do(line, report):
                 if re.search('for \([^\(]', line):
                     return
             if not re.search(';\s*do$', line):
-                report.print_error(('E010: Do not on same line as %s' %
-                                    operator), line)
+                report.print_error((messages.E010 % operator), line)
 
 
 def check_if_then(line, report):
     if not_continuation(line):
         if re.search('^\s*(el)?if \[', line):
             if not re.search(';\s*then$', line):
-                report.print_error('E011: Then keyword is not on same line '
-                                   'as if or elif keyword', line)
+                report.print_error(messages.E011, line)
 
 
 def check_no_trailing_whitespace(line, report):
     if re.search('[ \t]+$', line):
-        report.print_error('E001: Trailing Whitespace', line)
+        report.print_error(messages.E001, line)
 
 
 def check_indents(line, report):
     m = re.search('^(?P<indent>[ \t]+)', line)
     if m:
         if re.search('\t', m.group('indent')):
-            report.print_error('E002: Tab indents', line)
+            report.print_error(messages.E002, line)
         if (len(m.group('indent')) % 4) != 0:
-            report.print_error('E003: Indent not multiple of 4', line)
+            report.print_error(messages.E003, line)
 
 
 def check_function_decl(line, report):
@@ -72,8 +74,7 @@ def check_function_decl(line, report):
             failed = True
 
     if failed:
-        report.print_error('E020: Function declaration not in format '
-                           '"^function name {$"', line)
+        report.print_error(messages.E020, line)
 
 
 def starts_multiline(line):
@@ -92,8 +93,7 @@ def end_of_multiline(line, token):
 
 def check_arithmetic(line, report):
     if "$[" in line:
-        report.print_error('E041: Arithmetic expansion using $[ '
-                           'is deprecated for $((', line)
+        report.print_error(messages.E041, line)
 
 
 class BashateRun(object):
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ class BashateRun(object):
                     # find the end of a heredoc in the last file.
                     if in_multiline:
                         report.print_error(
-                            'E012: heredoc did not end before EOF',
+                            messages.E012,
                             multiline_line,
                             filename=prev_file,
                             filelineno=multiline_start)
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ class BashateRun(object):
                     # newline
                     if prev_file and not prev_line.endswith('\n'):
                         report.print_error(
-                            'E004: file did not end with a newline',
+                            messages.E004,
                             prev_line,
                             filename=prev_file,
                             filelineno=prev_lineno)
diff --git a/bashate/messages.py b/bashate/messages.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..00aecb2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bashate/messages.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+# WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+# License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+# under the License.
+
+E001 = "E001: Trailing Whitespace"
+E002 = "E002: Tab indents"
+E003 = "E003: Indent not multiple of 4"
+E004 = "E004: File did not end with a newline"
+
+E010 = "E010: Do not on same line as %s"
+E011 = "E011: Then keyword is not on same line as if or elif keyword"
+E012 = "E012: heredoc did not end before EOF"
+
+E020 = "E020: Function declaration not in format ^function name {$"
+
+E041 = "E041: Arithmetic expansion using $[ is deprecated for $(('"
diff --git a/bashate/tests/test_bashate.py b/bashate/tests/test_bashate.py
index 2ab009d..2c2508c 100644
--- a/bashate/tests/test_bashate.py
+++ b/bashate/tests/test_bashate.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ Tests for `bashate` module.
 import mock
 
 from bashate import bashate
+from bashate import messages
 from bashate.tests import base
 
 
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ class TestBashate(base.TestCase):
         bashate.check_for_do(test_line, self.run)
 
         m_print_error.assert_called_once_with(
-            'E010: Do not on same line as while', test_line)
+            messages.E010 % 'while', test_line)
 
 
 class TestBashateSamples(base.TestCase):