diff --git a/common/lib/capa/capa/responsetypes.py b/common/lib/capa/capa/responsetypes.py
index 465c212b30..08cfa8b9d9 100644
--- a/common/lib/capa/capa/responsetypes.py
+++ b/common/lib/capa/capa/responsetypes.py
@@ -834,7 +834,7 @@ class NumericalResponse(LoncapaResponse):
             import sys
             type, value, traceback = sys.exc_info()
 
-            raise StudentInputError, ("Invalid input: could not interpret '%s' as a number" %
+            raise StudentInputError, ("Could not interpret '%s' as a number" %
                                       cgi.escape(student_answer)), traceback
 
         if correct:
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/capa_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/capa_module.py
index c3159bb3ee..773ae73d59 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/capa_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/capa_module.py
@@ -738,7 +738,7 @@ class CapaModule(CapaFields, XModule):
             # Otherwise, display just an error message,
             # without a stack trace
             else:
-                msg = "Error: Problem could not be evaluated with your input"
+                msg = "Error: %s" % str(inst.message)
 
             return {'success': msg }
 
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_capa_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_capa_module.py
index b5e1ff311c..3617086f85 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_capa_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_capa_module.py
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ class CapaModuleTest(unittest.TestCase):
             result = module.check_problem(get_request_dict)
 
             # Expect an AJAX alert message in 'success'
-            expected_msg = 'Error: Problem could not be evaluated with your input'
+            expected_msg = 'Error: test error'
             self.assertEqual(expected_msg, result['success'])
 
         # Expect that the number of attempts is NOT incremented