diff --git a/Source/GSString.m b/Source/GSString.m
index fa2157fc56..eaf3d6b784 100644
--- a/Source/GSString.m
+++ b/Source/GSString.m
@@ -2710,7 +2710,7 @@ - (id) retain
 		  if (c > 127)
 		    {
 		      [NSException raise: NSCharacterConversionException
-				  format: @"unable to convert to encoding"];
+				  format: @"unable to convert to encoding (one)"];
 		    }
 		  buffer[i] = c;
 		}
@@ -2803,8 +2803,9 @@ - (id) retain
 
 		  if (u & 0xff00)
 		    {
-		      [NSException raise: NSCharacterConversionException
-				  format: @"unable to convert to encoding"];
+		      [NSException
+			 raise:NSCharacterConversionException
+			format:@"unable to convert to encoding (two)"];
 		    }
 		  buffer[i] = (char)u;
 		}
@@ -2830,7 +2831,7 @@ - (id) retain
 		  if (u & 0xff80)
 		    {
 		      [NSException raise: NSCharacterConversionException
-				  format: @"unable to convert to encoding"];
+				  format: @"unable to convert to encoding (three)"];
 		    }
 		  buffer[i] = (char)u;
 		}