diff --git a/unix/console_unix.ml b/unix/console_unix.ml
index 7e92c4b..5fee11b 100644
--- a/unix/console_unix.ml
+++ b/unix/console_unix.ml
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ type 'a io = 'a Lwt.t
 type error = [ `Invalid_console of string ]
 type buffer = Cstruct.t
 
+let error_message (`Invalid_console msg) =
+  Printf.sprintf "Invalid console '%s'" msg
+
 let connect id =
   let read_buffer = Cstruct.create 1024 in
   let closed = false in
diff --git a/xen/console_xen.ml b/xen/console_xen.ml
index 8d7f9fe..a660cb0 100644
--- a/xen/console_xen.ml
+++ b/xen/console_xen.ml
@@ -32,7 +32,9 @@ type 'a io = 'a Lwt.t
 
 type error = [ `Invalid_console of string ]
 type id = string
-exception Internal_error of string
+
+let error_message (`Invalid_console msg) =
+  Printf.sprintf "Invalid console '%s'" msg
 
 let h = Eventchn.init ()
 let id { id } = string_of_int id