diff --git a/src/borg/helpers.py b/src/borg/helpers.py
index 6564b6ad1..24fed1463 100644
--- a/src/borg/helpers.py
+++ b/src/borg/helpers.py
@@ -108,7 +108,8 @@ def set_ec(ec):
 
 
 class Error(Exception):
-    """Error base class"""
+    """Error: {}"""
+    # Error base class
 
     # if we raise such an Error and it is only catched by the uppermost
     # exception handler (that exits short after with the given exit_code),
@@ -128,7 +129,8 @@ class Error(Exception):
 
 
 class ErrorWithTraceback(Error):
-    """like Error, but show a traceback also"""
+    """Error: {}"""
+    # like Error, but show a traceback also
     traceback = True