diff --git a/pykd/dbgexcept.h b/pykd/dbgexcept.h
index f69f803..5868049 100644
--- a/pykd/dbgexcept.h
+++ b/pykd/dbgexcept.h
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ public:
         baseExceptTypeObject = p;
     }
 
+    std::string print() {
+         return what();
+    }
+
 private:
     static PyObject *baseExceptTypeObject;
 };
diff --git a/pykd/dbgext.cpp b/pykd/dbgext.cpp
index e9b7030..556119e 100644
--- a/pykd/dbgext.cpp
+++ b/pykd/dbgext.cpp
@@ -164,7 +164,8 @@ BOOST_PYTHON_MODULE( pykd )
     dbgExceptionClass
         .def( python::init<std::string>( python::args("desc"), "constructor" ) )
         .def( "desc", &DbgException::getDesc,
-            "Get exception description" );
+            "Get exception description" )
+            .def( "__str__", &DbgException::print);
     DbgException::setTypeObject( dbgExceptionClass.ptr() );
 
     // DIA exceptions
diff --git a/pykd/diawrapper.cpp b/pykd/diawrapper.cpp
index e2eaf62..b93aa7f 100644
--- a/pykd/diawrapper.cpp
+++ b/pykd/diawrapper.cpp
@@ -14,13 +14,14 @@ namespace pyDia {
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 PyObject *Exception::diaExceptTypeObject =  NULL;
+const std::string Exception::descPrefix("pyDia: ");
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 std::string Exception::makeFullDesc(const std::string &desc, HRESULT hres)
 {
     std::strstream res;
-    res << "pyDia: " << desc << " failed" << std::endl;
+    res << descPrefix << desc << " failed" << std::endl;
     res << "Return value is 0x" << std::hex << hres;
 
     PCHAR errMessage = NULL;
@@ -153,8 +154,11 @@ python::object Symbol::getChildByName(const std::string &_name)
     if (FAILED(hres))
         throw Exception("Get count of children", hres);
 
+    if (!count)
+        throw Exception(_name + " not found as children");
+
     if (count != 1)
-        throw Exception("Query unique child", S_FALSE);
+        throw Exception(_name + " is not unique");
 
     CComPtr< IDiaSymbol > child;
     hres = symbols->Item(0, &child);
@@ -210,7 +214,7 @@ python::object Symbol::getChildByIndex(ULONG _index)
         throw Exception("Get count of children", hres);
 
     if (LONG(_index) >= count)
-        throw Exception("Check child index", S_FALSE);
+        throw Exception("Attempt to access non-existing element: index overflow");
 
     CComPtr< IDiaSymbol > child;
     hres = symbols->Item(_index, &child);
diff --git a/pykd/diawrapper.h b/pykd/diawrapper.h
index aac544f..36c73c8 100644
--- a/pykd/diawrapper.h
+++ b/pykd/diawrapper.h
@@ -15,6 +15,12 @@ public:
     {
     }
 
+    Exception(const std::string &desc)
+        : DbgException(descPrefix + desc)
+        , m_hres(S_FALSE)
+    {
+    }
+
     HRESULT getRes() const {
         return m_hres;
     }
@@ -27,6 +33,8 @@ public:
 
 private:
 
+    static const std::string descPrefix;
+
     static PyObject *diaExceptTypeObject;
 
     static std::string makeFullDesc(const std::string &desc, HRESULT hres);
@@ -67,7 +75,7 @@ protected:
     void throwIfNull(const char *desc)
     {
         if (!m_symbol)
-            throw Exception(desc, S_FALSE);
+            throw Exception(std::string(desc) + " failed, object not preinitialized");
     }
 
     Symbol(__inout CComPtr< IDiaSymbol > &_symbol) {