diff --git a/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/internal/core/model/CValue.java b/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/internal/core/model/CValue.java
index a7b6495c5f0..6f69fb66d8c 100644
--- a/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/internal/core/model/CValue.java
+++ b/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/internal/core/model/CValue.java
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ public class CValue extends AbstractCValue {
 				}
 				catch( CDIException e ) {
 					setStatus( ICDebugElementStatus.ERROR, e.getMessage() );
+					fValueString = e.getLocalizedMessage();
 				}
 			}
 		}