diff --git a/qc3C/command_line.py b/qc3C/command_line.py
index 27128ce..db28c04 100644
--- a/qc3C/command_line.py
+++ b/qc3C/command_line.py
@@ -318,8 +318,7 @@ def __repr__(self):
         sys.exit(1)
 
     except Exception as ex:
-        # use repr to get a little more info from system exceptions
-        logger.error(repr(ex))
+        logger.error(str(ex))
         if args.debug:
             logger.exception(ex)
         sys.exit(1)