diff --git a/lib/py/src/Thrift.py b/lib/py/src/Thrift.py
index a1ec6cc..aeca9b9 100644
--- a/lib/py/src/Thrift.py
+++ b/lib/py/src/Thrift.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
 
   def __init__(self, message=None):
     Exception.__init__(self, message)
+    self.message = message
 
 class TApplicationException(TException):