diff --git a/commands/common.go b/commands/common.go
index 93c1b5d..9810300 100644
--- a/commands/common.go
+++ b/commands/common.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 	"golang.org/x/net/context"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
 	reflectpb "google.golang.org/grpc/reflection/grpc_reflection_v1alpha"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/status"
 	"log"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
@@ -93,3 +94,16 @@
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func HumanReadableError(err error) string {
+	st, ok := status.FromError(err)
+	if ok {
+		grpc_message := st.Message()
+		if strings.HasPrefix(grpc_message, "Exception calling application: ") {
+			return st.Message()[31:]
+		} else {
+			return st.Message()
+		}
+	}
+	return err.Error()
+}