diff --git a/pavelib/quality.py b/pavelib/quality.py
index 276f7ee2b4..375061a8f2 100644
--- a/pavelib/quality.py
+++ b/pavelib/quality.py
@@ -1031,11 +1031,11 @@ def run_diff_quality(
             )
         )
         return True
-    except BuildFailure as error_message:
-        if is_percentage_failure(error_message):
+    except BuildFailure as failure:
+        if is_percentage_failure(failure.args):
             return False
         else:
-            fail_quality('diff_quality', 'FAILURE: {}'.format(error_message))
+            fail_quality('diff_quality', 'FAILURE: {}'.format(failure))
 
 
 def is_percentage_failure(error_message):