diff --git a/tailbone/views/batch/core.py b/tailbone/views/batch/core.py
index 84b2e77c..77da3344 100644
--- a/tailbone/views/batch/core.py
+++ b/tailbone/views/batch/core.py
@@ -1060,13 +1060,12 @@ class BatchMasterView(MasterView):
             session.flush()
         except Exception as error:
             session.rollback()
-            log.exception("batch population failed: %s", batch)
+            log.exception("population failed for batch %s: %s", batch.uuid, batch)
             session.close()
             if progress:
                 progress.session.load()
                 progress.session['error'] = True
-                progress.session['error_msg'] = "Batch population failed: {}".format(
-                    simple_error(error))
+                progress.session['error_msg'] = simple_error(error)
                 progress.session.save()
             return