diff --git a/spring-binding/src/main/java/org/springframework/binding/convert/ConversionExecutionException.java b/spring-binding/src/main/java/org/springframework/binding/convert/ConversionExecutionException.java
index 49ba8880..474fc1af 100644
--- a/spring-binding/src/main/java/org/springframework/binding/convert/ConversionExecutionException.java
+++ b/spring-binding/src/main/java/org/springframework/binding/convert/ConversionExecutionException.java
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
  */
 package org.springframework.binding.convert;
 
+import org.springframework.core.style.StylerUtils;
+
 /**
  * Thrown when an attempt to execute a type conversion fails.
  * 
@@ -87,8 +89,8 @@ public class ConversionExecutionException extends ConversionException {
 	}
 
 	private static String defaultMessage(Object value, Class sourceClass, Class targetClass, Throwable cause) {
-		return "Unable to convert value " + value + " from type '" + sourceClass.getName() + "' to type '"
-				+ targetClass.getName() + "; reason = '" + cause.getMessage() + "'";
+		return "Unable to convert value " + StylerUtils.style(value) + " from type '" + sourceClass.getName()
+				+ "' to type '" + targetClass.getName() + "'; reason = '" + cause.getMessage() + "'";
 	}
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/spring-binding/src/main/java/org/springframework/binding/expression/beanwrapper/BeanWrapperExpression.java b/spring-binding/src/main/java/org/springframework/binding/expression/beanwrapper/BeanWrapperExpression.java
index 0888c269..3e7a6c22 100644
--- a/spring-binding/src/main/java/org/springframework/binding/expression/beanwrapper/BeanWrapperExpression.java
+++ b/spring-binding/src/main/java/org/springframework/binding/expression/beanwrapper/BeanWrapperExpression.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import org.springframework.beans.BeanWrapperImpl;
 import org.springframework.beans.BeansException;
 import org.springframework.beans.NotReadablePropertyException;
 import org.springframework.beans.NotWritablePropertyException;
+import org.springframework.binding.convert.ConversionException;
 import org.springframework.binding.convert.ConversionExecutor;
 import org.springframework.binding.convert.ConversionService;
 import org.springframework.binding.expression.EvaluationException;
@@ -135,7 +136,15 @@ public class BeanWrapperExpression implements Expression {
 		}
 
 		public void setAsText(String text) throws IllegalArgumentException {
-			setValue(converter.execute(text));
+			try {
+				Object convertedValue = converter.execute(text);
+				setValue(convertedValue);
+			} catch (ConversionException e) {
+				IllegalArgumentException iae = new IllegalArgumentException("Unable to convert text '" + text + "'");
+				iae.initCause(e);
+				throw iae;
+			}
 		}
 	}
+
 }
diff --git a/spring-binding/src/test/java/org/springframework/binding/expression/ognl/OgnlExpressionParserTests.java b/spring-binding/src/test/java/org/springframework/binding/expression/ognl/OgnlExpressionParserTests.java
index 5c8f5abf..d6fe5c55 100644
--- a/spring-binding/src/test/java/org/springframework/binding/expression/ognl/OgnlExpressionParserTests.java
+++ b/spring-binding/src/test/java/org/springframework/binding/expression/ognl/OgnlExpressionParserTests.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ package org.springframework.binding.expression.ognl;
 
 import junit.framework.TestCase;
 
+import org.springframework.binding.expression.EvaluationException;
 import org.springframework.binding.expression.Expression;
 import org.springframework.binding.expression.ExpressionVariable;
 import org.springframework.binding.expression.ParserException;
@@ -166,4 +167,18 @@ public class OgnlExpressionParserTests extends TestCase {
 		Expression e = parser.parseExpression(exp, null);
 		assertEquals(null, e.getValueType(bean));
 	}
+
+	public void testSetValueWithCoersion() {
+		Expression e = parser.parseExpression("date", null);
+		e.setValue(bean, "2008-9-15");
+	}
+
+	public void testSetBogusValueWithCoersion() {
+		Expression e = parser.parseExpression("date", null);
+		try {
+			e.setValue(bean, "bogus");
+			fail("Should have failed tme");
+		} catch (EvaluationException ex) {
+		}
+	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file