diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/error_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/error_module.py
index 8014234f69..7f15370176 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/error_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/error_module.py
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ class ErrorDescriptor(ErrorFields, JSONEditingDescriptor):
     def from_descriptor(cls, descriptor, error_msg='Error not available'):
         return cls._construct(
             descriptor.system,
-            descriptor._model_data,
+            str(descriptor),
             error_msg,
             location=descriptor.location,
         )
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_error_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_error_module.py
index b329b4b5cc..78e5b46a96 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_error_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_error_module.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class TestErrorModule(unittest.TestCase):
         module = error_descriptor.xmodule(self.system)
         rendered_html = module.get_html()
         self.assertIn(self.error_msg, rendered_html)
-        self.assertIn(self.valid_xml, rendered_html)
+        self.assertIn(str(descriptor), rendered_html)
 
 
 class TestNonStaffErrorModule(TestErrorModule):
@@ -76,4 +76,4 @@ class TestNonStaffErrorModule(TestErrorModule):
         module = error_descriptor.xmodule(self.system)
         rendered_html = module.get_html()
         self.assertNotIn(self.error_msg, rendered_html)
-        self.assertNotIn(self.valid_xml, rendered_html)
+        self.assertNotIn(str(descriptor), rendered_html)