diff --git a/src/main/java/net/schmizz/sshj/common/SSHRuntimeException.java b/src/main/java/net/schmizz/sshj/common/SSHRuntimeException.java
index 022adcd8..b9afd48f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/schmizz/sshj/common/SSHRuntimeException.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/schmizz/sshj/common/SSHRuntimeException.java
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ public class SSHRuntimeException
     }
 
     public SSHRuntimeException(Throwable cause) {
-        this(null, cause);
+        this(cause.getMessage(), cause);
     }
 
 }