diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidator.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidator.java
index a3c9f1f0..4adf2f44 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidator.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QInstanceValidator.java
@@ -887,7 +887,8 @@ public class QInstanceValidator
                //////////////////////////////////////////
                // otherwise, just append the exception //
                //////////////////////////////////////////
-               errors.add(prefix + ": " + e);
+               e.printStackTrace();
+               errors.add(prefix + ": " + e.getMessage());
             }
          }
       }