diff --git a/packages/gatsby-plugin-sharp/src/index.js b/packages/gatsby-plugin-sharp/src/index.js
index 4a5e2d0b67412..73abe3614bf0b 100644
--- a/packages/gatsby-plugin-sharp/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/gatsby-plugin-sharp/src/index.js
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ function createJob(job, { reporter }) {
   }
 
   promise.catch(err => {
-    reporter.panic(err)
+    reporter.panic(`error converting image`, err)
   })
 
   return promise