1 files changed, 4 insertions, 2 deletions
diff --git a/include/io/zlib_error.h b/include/io/zlib_error.h
index 12eaf20a3f..ce375a6ccd 100644
--- a/include/io/zlib_error.h
+++ b/include/io/zlib_error.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #define ZLIB_ERROR_H_INCLUDED
 
 #include <stdexcept>
+#include <zlib.h>
 
 ///Exception thrown in case zlib encounters a problem
 class zlib_error : public std::runtime_error
@@ -9,8 +10,9 @@ class zlib_error : public std::runtime_error
 public:
     const int errcode;
 
-    explicit zlib_error(const char* what_arg, int errcode = -1):
-        std::runtime_error(what_arg), errcode(errcode)
+    explicit zlib_error(const char* msg, int errcode):
+        std::runtime_error(std::string(zError(errcode)) + ": " + msg),
+        errcode(errcode)
     {}
 };