diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/util/StringUtil.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/util/StringUtil.java
index ecc2c167..13089dcf 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/util/StringUtil.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/util/StringUtil.java
@@ -276,6 +276,19 @@ public class StringUtil
         return _ffmt.format(value);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Get the message in the specified throwable, or the short class
+     * name if there is no message.
+     */
+    public static String getMessage (Throwable t)
+    {
+        String msg = t.getMessage();
+        if (msg == null) {
+            msg = shortClassName(t);
+        }
+        return msg;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Converts the supplied object to a string. Normally this is
      * accomplished via the object's built in <code>toString()</code>