diff --git a/test/base/populators.py b/test/base/populators.py
index 2cc1d655913..e6cac2ade8e 100644
--- a/test/base/populators.py
+++ b/test/base/populators.py
@@ -982,7 +982,7 @@ def wait_on_state(state_func, desc="state", skip_states=["running", "queued", "n
         return wait_on(get_state, desc=desc, timeout=timeout)
     except TimeoutAssertionError as e:
         response = state_func()
-        raise TimeoutAssertionError("%s Current response containing state [%s]." % (e.message, response.json()))
+        raise TimeoutAssertionError("%s Current response containing state [%s]." % (str(e), response.json()))
 
 
 class GiPostGetMixin: