diff --git a/vscode-extensions/commons/commons-util/src/main/java/org/springframework/ide/vscode/commons/util/ExceptionUtil.java b/vscode-extensions/commons/commons-util/src/main/java/org/springframework/ide/vscode/commons/util/ExceptionUtil.java
index f1a0494f1..cc5fd29bf 100644
--- a/vscode-extensions/commons/commons-util/src/main/java/org/springframework/ide/vscode/commons/util/ExceptionUtil.java
+++ b/vscode-extensions/commons/commons-util/src/main/java/org/springframework/ide/vscode/commons/util/ExceptionUtil.java
@@ -64,6 +64,19 @@ public class ExceptionUtil {
 		String msg = cause.getClass().getSimpleName() + ": " + cause.getMessage();
 		return msg;
 	}
+	
+	/**
+	 * 
+	 * @param e
+	 * @return a nicer message suitable for display to the user
+	 */
+	public static String getMessageForUserDisplay(Throwable e) {
+		// The message of nested exception is usually more interesting than the
+		// one on top.
+		Throwable cause = getDeepestCause(e);
+		String msg = cause.getMessage();
+		return msg;
+	}
 
 	public static IllegalStateException notImplemented(String string) {
 		return new IllegalStateException("Not implemented: " + string);
diff --git a/vscode-extensions/commons/commons-yaml/src/main/java/org/springframework/ide/vscode/commons/yaml/completion/YTypeAssistContext.java b/vscode-extensions/commons/commons-yaml/src/main/java/org/springframework/ide/vscode/commons/yaml/completion/YTypeAssistContext.java
index e07c817ee..a83d03401 100644
--- a/vscode-extensions/commons/commons-yaml/src/main/java/org/springframework/ide/vscode/commons/yaml/completion/YTypeAssistContext.java
+++ b/vscode-extensions/commons/commons-yaml/src/main/java/org/springframework/ide/vscode/commons/yaml/completion/YTypeAssistContext.java
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ public class YTypeAssistContext extends AbstractYamlAssistContext {
 			values = typeUtil.getHintValues(type, getSchemaContext());
 		} catch (Exception e) {
 			DocumentEdits edits = new DocumentEdits(doc.getDocument());
-			return ImmutableList.of(completionFactory().errorMessage(ExceptionUtil.getMessage(e), query, type, edits, typeUtil));
+			return ImmutableList.of(completionFactory().errorMessage(ExceptionUtil.getMessageForUserDisplay(e), query, type, edits, typeUtil));
 		}
 		if (values!=null) {
 			ArrayList<ICompletionProposal> completions = new ArrayList<>();