diff --git a/cassandra/query.py b/cassandra/query.py
index 1b0a56d4..c159e787 100644
--- a/cassandra/query.py
+++ b/cassandra/query.py
@@ -500,13 +500,13 @@ class BoundStatement(Statement):
 
                 try:
                     self.values.append(col_type.serialize(value, proto_version))
-                except (TypeError, struct.error):
+                except (TypeError, struct.error) as exc:
                     col_name = col_spec[2]
                     expected_type = col_type
                     actual_type = type(value)
 
                     message = ('Received an argument of invalid type for column "%s". '
-                               'Expected: %s, Got: %s' % (col_name, expected_type, actual_type))
+                               'Expected: %s, Got: %s; (%s)' % (col_name, expected_type, actual_type, exc))
                     raise TypeError(message)
 
         return self
diff --git a/tests/integration/standard/test_types.py b/tests/integration/standard/test_types.py
index b0a47c06..b10f3e6b 100644
--- a/tests/integration/standard/test_types.py
+++ b/tests/integration/standard/test_types.py
@@ -700,10 +700,10 @@ class TypeTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEquals((None, None, None, None), s.execute(read)[0].t)
 
         # also test empty strings where compatible
-        s.execute(insert, [('', None, None, '')])
+        s.execute(insert, [('', None, None, b'')])
         result = s.execute("SELECT * FROM mytable WHERE k=0")
-        self.assertEquals(('', None, None, ''), result[0].t)
-        self.assertEquals(('', None, None, ''), s.execute(read)[0].t)
+        self.assertEquals(('', None, None, b''), result[0].t)
+        self.assertEquals(('', None, None, b''), s.execute(read)[0].t)
 
         c.shutdown()