diff --git a/activeresource/lib/active_resource/exceptions.rb b/activeresource/lib/active_resource/exceptions.rb
index 0631cdcf9f..0f4549fd73 100644
--- a/activeresource/lib/active_resource/exceptions.rb
+++ b/activeresource/lib/active_resource/exceptions.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,10 @@ module ActiveResource
     end
 
     def to_s
-      "Failed with #{response.code} #{response.message if response.respond_to?(:message)}"
+      message = "Failed."
+      message << "  Response code = #{response.code}." if response.respond_to?(:code)
+      message << "  Response message = #{response.message}." if response.respond_to?(:message)
+      message
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/activeresource/test/connection_test.rb b/activeresource/test/connection_test.rb
index d7466c65b4..2a3e04272a 100644
--- a/activeresource/test/connection_test.rb
+++ b/activeresource/test/connection_test.rb
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ class ConnectionTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     begin
       handle_response ResponseHeaderStub.new(405, "HTTP Failed...", "GET, POST")
     rescue ActiveResource::MethodNotAllowed => e
-      assert_equal "Failed with 405 HTTP Failed...", e.message
+      assert_equal "Failed.  Response code = 405.  Response message = HTTP Failed....", e.message
       assert_equal [:get, :post], e.allowed_methods
     end
   end