diff --git a/elementary/clients/dbt/api_dbt_runner.py b/elementary/clients/dbt/api_dbt_runner.py
index 7f7407f4b..a30b6ba57 100644
--- a/elementary/clients/dbt/api_dbt_runner.py
+++ b/elementary/clients/dbt/api_dbt_runner.py
@@ -50,7 +50,10 @@ def collect_dbt_command_logs(event):
                 res: dbtRunnerResult = dbt.invoke(dbt_command_args)
         output = "\n".join(dbt_logs) or None
         if self.raise_on_failure and not res.success:
-            raise DbtCommandError(base_command_args=dbt_command_args, err_msg=output)
+            raise DbtCommandError(
+                base_command_args=dbt_command_args,
+                err_msg=(str(res.exception) if res.exception else output),
+            )
 
         return APIDbtCommandResult(success=res.success, output=output, result_obj=res)