diff --git a/kdesrc-build b/kdesrc-build
index c137c77..6639923 100755
--- a/kdesrc-build
+++ b/kdesrc-build
@@ -3912,6 +3912,10 @@ EOF
 
         if($@)
         {
+            if (ref $@ && $@->isa('BuildException')) {
+                $@ = $@->{message};
+            }
+
             error ("Unable to run r[b[svn], is the Subversion program installed?");
             error (" -- Error was: r[$@]");
             return undef;