diff --git a/cpp/src/gandiva/gdv_function_stubs.cc b/cpp/src/gandiva/gdv_function_stubs.cc
index 67d39aeba55..f49e64cebb3 100644
--- a/cpp/src/gandiva/gdv_function_stubs.cc
+++ b/cpp/src/gandiva/gdv_function_stubs.cc
@@ -332,8 +332,8 @@ const char* gdv_fn_aes_encrypt(int64_t context, const char* data, int32_t data_l
     *out_len = gandiva::aes_encrypt(data, data_len, key_data,
                                     reinterpret_cast<unsigned char*>(ret));
   } catch (const std::runtime_error& e) {
-    gdv_fn_context_set_error_msg(context, e.what());
-    return nullptr;
+    std::string err_msg = "Following error occurred while encrypting ciphertext - " + std::string(e.what());
+    gdv_fn_context_set_error_msg(context, err_msg.data());
   }
 
   return ret;
@@ -363,8 +363,8 @@ const char* gdv_fn_aes_decrypt(int64_t context, const char* data, int32_t data_l
     *out_len = gandiva::aes_decrypt(data, data_len, key_data,
                                     reinterpret_cast<unsigned char*>(ret));
   } catch (const std::runtime_error& e) {
-    gdv_fn_context_set_error_msg(context, e.what());
-    return nullptr;
+    std::string err_msg = "Following error occurred while decrypting ciphertext - " + std::string(e.what());
+    gdv_fn_context_set_error_msg(context, err_msg.data());
   }
 
   return ret;