diff --git a/runtime.go b/runtime.go
index 0139ef10..6dff451c 100644
--- a/runtime.go
+++ b/runtime.go
@@ -386,11 +386,13 @@ func (e *Exception) String() string {
 }
 
 func (e *Exception) Error() string {
-	if e == nil || e.val == nil {
+	if e == nil {
 		return "<nil>"
 	}
 	var b bytes.Buffer
-	b.WriteString(e.val.String())
+	if e.val != nil {
+		b.WriteString(e.val.String())
+	}
 	e.writeShortStack(&b)
 	return b.String()
 }