diff --git a/lib/ansible/errors/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/errors/__init__.py
index 017272af7ca..2185a83e4c0 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/errors/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/errors/__init__.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class AnsibleError(Exception):
         if obj and isinstance(obj, AnsibleBaseYAMLObject):
             extended_error = self._get_extended_error()
             if extended_error:
-                self.message = 'ERROR! %s\n\n%s' % (message, to_str(extended_error))
+                self.message = 'ERROR! %s\n\n%s' % (to_str(message), to_str(extended_error))
         else:
             self.message = 'ERROR! %s' % message