diff --git a/mitmproxy/dump.py b/mitmproxy/dump.py
index 98d9bd5e3..24ff2ae68 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/dump.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/dump.py
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ class DumpMaster(flow.FlowMaster):
         try:
             return flow.read_flows_from_paths(paths)
         except FlowReadException as e:
-            raise DumpError(e.strerror)
+            raise DumpError(str(e))
 
     def add_event(self, e, level="info"):
         needed = dict(error=0, info=1, debug=2).get(level, 1)