diff --git a/heat/engine/worker.py b/heat/engine/worker.py
index 1103d20068..3e7534c693 100644
--- a/heat/engine/worker.py
+++ b/heat/engine/worker.py
@@ -178,8 +178,9 @@ class WorkerService(service.Service):
                                                     current_traversal,
                                                     data, is_update)
                 return
-            except exception.ResourceFailure as e:
-                reason = six.text_type(e)
+            except exception.ResourceFailure as ex:
+                reason = 'Resource %s failed: %s' % (stack.action,
+                                                     six.text_type(ex))
                 self._handle_resource_failure(
                     cnxt, stack.id, current_traversal, reason)
                 return
@@ -195,8 +196,9 @@ class WorkerService(service.Service):
                                                     current_traversal,
                                                     data, is_update)
                 return
-            except exception.ResourceFailure as e:
-                reason = six.text_type(e)
+            except exception.ResourceFailure as ex:
+                reason = 'Resource %s failed: %s' % (stack.action,
+                                                     six.text_type(ex))
                 self._handle_resource_failure(
                     cnxt, stack.id, current_traversal, reason)
                 return
diff --git a/heat/tests/test_engine_worker.py b/heat/tests/test_engine_worker.py
index de0f48c5b8..6299356c77 100644
--- a/heat/tests/test_engine_worker.py
+++ b/heat/tests/test_engine_worker.py
@@ -203,7 +203,8 @@ class CheckWorkflowUpdateTest(common.HeatTestCase):
                                    self.is_update)
         s = self.stack.load(self.ctx, stack_id=self.stack.id)
         self.assertEqual((s.UPDATE, s.FAILED), (s.action, s.status))
-        self.assertEqual(u'ResourceNotAvailable: resources.A: The Resource (A)'
+        self.assertEqual('Resource UPDATE failed: '
+                         'ResourceNotAvailable: resources.A: The Resource (A)'
                          ' is not available.', s.status_reason)
 
     def test_resource_cleanup_failure_sets_stack_state_as_failed(
@@ -220,7 +221,8 @@ class CheckWorkflowUpdateTest(common.HeatTestCase):
                                    self.is_update)
         s = self.stack.load(self.ctx, stack_id=self.stack.id)
         self.assertEqual((s.UPDATE, s.FAILED), (s.action, s.status))
-        self.assertEqual(u'ResourceNotAvailable: resources.A: The Resource (A)'
+        self.assertEqual('Resource UPDATE failed: '
+                         'ResourceNotAvailable: resources.A: The Resource (A)'
                          ' is not available.', s.status_reason)
 
     def test_resource_update_failure_triggers_rollback_if_enabled(