diff --git a/nova/exception.py b/nova/exception.py
index 09bcfa59fdb9..c656c00caaab 100644
--- a/nova/exception.py
+++ b/nova/exception.py
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ class NovaException(Exception):
                     # at least get the core message out if something happened
                     message = self.msg_fmt
 
+        self.message = message
         super(NovaException, self).__init__(message)
 
     def format_message(self):