diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/data/GameConfig.java b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/data/GameConfig.java
index 274c10ed..03e29039 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/data/GameConfig.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/data/GameConfig.java
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ public abstract class GameConfig extends PlaceConfig implements Cloneable
         try {
             return super.clone();
         } catch (CloneNotSupportedException cnse) {
-            throw new RuntimeException("clone() failed: " + cnse);
+            throw new RuntimeException(cnse);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/data/Board.java b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/data/Board.java
index ebbdd816..b944f9db 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/data/Board.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/puzzle/data/Board.java
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ public abstract class Board
             board._rando = (BoardRandom)_rando.clone();
             return board;
         } catch (CloneNotSupportedException cnse) {
-            throw new RuntimeException("All is wrong with universe.");
+            throw new RuntimeException(cnse);
         }
     }
 
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ public abstract class Board
             try {
                 return super.clone();
             } catch (CloneNotSupportedException cnse) {
-                throw new RuntimeException("All is wrong with universe.");
+                throw new RuntimeException(cnse);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/stage/data/StageLocation.java b/src/java/com/threerings/stage/data/StageLocation.java
index 5c7c6d52..3307432a 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/stage/data/StageLocation.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/stage/data/StageLocation.java
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ public class StageLocation extends SimpleStreamableObject
         try {
             return (StageLocation)super.clone();
         } catch (CloneNotSupportedException cnse) {
-            throw new RuntimeException("StageLocation.clone() failed " + cnse);
+            throw new RuntimeException(cnse);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/data/Portal.java b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/data/Portal.java
index 5b83b627..088b6d42 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/data/Portal.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/data/Portal.java
@@ -90,9 +90,9 @@ public class Portal extends SimpleStreamableObject
     public Object clone ()
     {
         try {
-            return (Portal)super.clone();
+            return super.clone();
         } catch (CloneNotSupportedException cnse) {
-            throw new RuntimeException("Portal.clone() failed " + cnse);
+            throw new RuntimeException(cnse);
         }
     }