diff --git a/src/hdmf/build/map.py b/src/hdmf/build/map.py
index 5558acfa1..c56eb15dd 100644
--- a/src/hdmf/build/map.py
+++ b/src/hdmf/build/map.py
@@ -1225,7 +1225,7 @@ def construct(self, **kwargs):
                               object_id=builder.attributes.get(self.__spec.id_key()))
             obj.__init__(**kwargs)
         except Exception as ex:
-            msg = 'Could not construct %s object' % (cls.__name__,)
+            msg = 'Could not construct %s object due to %s' % (cls.__name__, ex)
             raise_from(Exception(msg), ex)
         return obj