diff --git a/near-plugins-derive/src/pausable.rs b/near-plugins-derive/src/pausable.rs
index 9c3dbf2..4a2f1de 100644
--- a/near-plugins-derive/src/pausable.rs
+++ b/near-plugins-derive/src/pausable.rs
@@ -184,13 +184,20 @@ pub fn if_paused(attrs: TokenStream, item: TokenStream) -> TokenStream {
 
     let fn_name = args.name;
 
+    // Construct error messages that use `format!` here, i.e. at compile time. Doing that during
+    // contract execution would cost extra gas.
+    let err_feature_not_paused = format!("Pausable: {fn_name} must be paused to use this function");
+
     let bypass_condition = get_bypass_condition(&args.except);
 
     let check_pause = quote!(
         let mut __check_paused = true;
         #bypass_condition
         if __check_paused {
-            ::near_sdk::require!(self.pa_is_paused(#fn_name.to_string()), "Pausable: Method must be paused");
+            ::near_sdk::require!(
+                self.pa_is_paused(#fn_name.to_string()),
+                #err_feature_not_paused,
+            );
         }
     );
 
diff --git a/near-plugins-derive/tests/common/utils.rs b/near-plugins-derive/tests/common/utils.rs
index ef3ebd9..69d608b 100644
--- a/near-plugins-derive/tests/common/utils.rs
+++ b/near-plugins-derive/tests/common/utils.rs
@@ -110,6 +110,11 @@ pub fn assert_method_is_paused(res: ExecutionFinalResult) {
     );
 }
 
+pub fn assert_pausable_escape_hatch_is_closed(res: ExecutionFinalResult, feature: &str) {
+    let must_contain = format!("Pausable: {feature} must be paused to use this function");
+    assert_failure_with(res, &must_contain);
+}
+
 pub fn assert_owner_update_failure(res: ExecutionFinalResult) {
     let err = res
         .into_result()
diff --git a/near-plugins-derive/tests/pausable.rs b/near-plugins-derive/tests/pausable.rs
index e5d0186..14fc229 100644
--- a/near-plugins-derive/tests/pausable.rs
+++ b/near-plugins-derive/tests/pausable.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use common::access_controllable_contract::AccessControllableContract;
 use common::pausable_contract::PausableContract;
 use common::utils::{
     assert_failure_with, assert_insufficient_acl_permissions, assert_method_is_paused,
-    assert_success_with, assert_success_with_unit_return,
+    assert_pausable_escape_hatch_is_closed, assert_success_with, assert_success_with_unit_return,
 };
 use near_sdk::serde_json::json;
 use std::collections::HashSet;
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@ use workspaces::{Account, AccountId, Contract, Worker};
 
 const PROJECT_PATH: &str = "./tests/contracts/pausable";
 
-const MESSAGE_METHOD_NOT_PAUSED: &str = "Pausable: Method must be paused";
-
 /// Bundles resources required in tests.
 struct Setup {
     /// The worker interacting with the current sandbox.
@@ -647,6 +645,6 @@ async fn test_escape_hatch_fail() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let res = setup
         .call_counter_modifier(&setup.unauth_account, "decrease_1")
         .await?;
-    assert_failure_with(res, MESSAGE_METHOD_NOT_PAUSED);
+    assert_pausable_escape_hatch_is_closed(res, "increase_1");
     Ok(())
 }