diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/utils/org/eclipse/cdt/utils/spawner/Spawner.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/utils/org/eclipse/cdt/utils/spawner/Spawner.java
index 4fb820a7cca..1a8424d6f7c 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/utils/org/eclipse/cdt/utils/spawner/Spawner.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/utils/org/eclipse/cdt/utils/spawner/Spawner.java
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ public class Spawner extends Process {
 			cmdarray = array;
 			envp = env;
 			dirpath = dir;
-			errMesg = new String();
+			errMesg = new String("Cannot run " + cmdarray[0]);
 		}
 
 		public void run() {