diff --git a/dr_botzo/ircbot/bot.py b/dr_botzo/ircbot/bot.py
index ab2448d..de7ab71 100644
--- a/dr_botzo/ircbot/bot.py
+++ b/dr_botzo/ircbot/bot.py
@@ -621,13 +621,13 @@ class IRCBot(irc.client.SimpleIRCClient):
             log.exception(e)
             # i don't think this would get populated if __import__ failed del sys.modules[plugin_path]
             if feedback:
-                self.privmsg(dest, "Plugin '{0:s}' could not be loaded: {1:s}".format(plugin_path, e))
+                self.privmsg(dest, "Plugin '{0:s}' could not be loaded: {1:s}".format(plugin_path, str(e)))
         except AttributeError as e:
             log.error("Error loading '{0:s}'".format(plugin_path))
             log.exception(e)
             del sys.modules[plugin_path]
             if feedback:
-                self.privmsg(dest, "Plugin '{0:s}' could not be loaded: {1:s}".format(plugin_path, e))
+                self.privmsg(dest, "Plugin '{0:s}' could not be loaded: {1:s}".format(plugin_path, str(e)))
 
     def handle_unload(self, connection, event, match):
         """Handle IRC requests to unload a plugin."""