diff --git a/pykd/dbgexcept.cpp b/pykd/dbgexcept.cpp
index c50ca12..d557cd4 100644
--- a/pykd/dbgexcept.cpp
+++ b/pykd/dbgexcept.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,16 @@ void MemoryException::exceptionTranslate( const MemoryException &e )
 
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
+std::string buildExceptDesc(PCSTR routineName, HRESULT hres)
+{
+    std::stringstream sstream;
+    sstream << "Call " << routineName << " failed\n";
+    sstream << "HRESULT 0x" << std::hex << hres;
+    return sstream.str();
+}
+
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
 }; // end namespace pykd
 
 
diff --git a/pykd/dbgexcept.h b/pykd/dbgexcept.h
index 846dd4f..f5033ea 100644
--- a/pykd/dbgexcept.h
+++ b/pykd/dbgexcept.h
@@ -113,6 +113,8 @@ private:
     };
 };
 
+std::string buildExceptDesc(PCSTR routineName, HRESULT hres);
+
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////