diff --git a/ckanext/odsh/model/spatial.py b/ckanext/odsh/model/spatial.py
index 37216d805255677ad1157a2b90d331609ef5713f..ef379e54dd9dad48b9ce6b8343ecbc0571522525 100644
--- a/ckanext/odsh/model/spatial.py
+++ b/ckanext/odsh/model/spatial.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class SpatialRegister(object):
             spatial_data = json.loads(response_body)
         except Exception as inst:
             msg = "Couldn't read response from spatial service %r: %s" % (response_body, inst)
-            raise Exception(inst)
+            raise Exception(msg)
         self._create_spatial_list(spatial_data, spatial_url)
 
     def _create_spatial_list(self, spatial_data, spatial_url=''):