diff --git a/src/allmydata/scripts/common_http.py b/src/allmydata/scripts/common_http.py
index 7d627a7ad..a2cae5a85 100644
--- a/src/allmydata/scripts/common_http.py
+++ b/src/allmydata/scripts/common_http.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ def format_http_success(resp):
 
 def format_http_error(msg, resp):
     return quote_output(
-        "%s: %s %s\n%s" % (msg, resp.status, resp.reason,
+        "%s: %s %s\n%r" % (msg, resp.status, resp.reason,
                            resp.read()),
         quotemarks=False)