diff --git a/testhelper/convenience.go b/testhelper/convenience.go
index 85cb9ec..f6cb371 100644
--- a/testhelper/convenience.go
+++ b/testhelper/convenience.go
@@ -63,13 +63,13 @@
 // an actual error
 func AssertNoErr(t *testing.T, e error) {
 	if e != nil {
-		logFatal(t, fmt.Sprintf("unexpected error %s", yellow(e)))
+		logFatal(t, fmt.Sprintf("unexpected error %s", yellow(e.Error())))
 	}
 }
 
 // CheckNoErr is similar to AssertNoErr, except with a non-fatal error
 func CheckNoErr(t *testing.T, e error) {
 	if e != nil {
-		logError(t, fmt.Sprintf("unexpected error %s", yellow(e)))
+		logError(t, fmt.Sprintf("unexpected error %s", yellow(e.Error())))
 	}
 }