diff --git a/pyghmi/ipmi/oem/lenovo/imm.py b/pyghmi/ipmi/oem/lenovo/imm.py
index 7710bbe2..f9559d37 100644
--- a/pyghmi/ipmi/oem/lenovo/imm.py
+++ b/pyghmi/ipmi/oem/lenovo/imm.py
@@ -2098,13 +2098,14 @@ class XCCClient(IMMClient):
                               'progress': 100 * wc.get_upload_progress()})
             if uploadthread.rspstatus >= 300 or uploadthread.rspstatus < 200:
                 rsp = uploadthread.rsp
-                errmsg = ''
+                errmsg = f'Upload failed with HTTP status {uploadthread.rspstatus}'
                 try:
                     rsp = json.loads(rsp)
                     errmsg = (
                         rsp['error']['@Message.ExtendedInfo'][0]['Message'])
                 except Exception:
-                    raise Exception(uploadthread.rsp)
+                    errmsg = errmsg + ': ' + str(rsp)
+                    raise Exception(errmsg)
                 raise Exception(errmsg)
             rsp = json.loads(uploadthread.rsp)
             monitorurl = rsp['@odata.id']
diff --git a/pyghmi/redfish/oem/generic.py b/pyghmi/redfish/oem/generic.py
index eb95b4ca..17bbfd1c 100644
--- a/pyghmi/redfish/oem/generic.py
+++ b/pyghmi/redfish/oem/generic.py
@@ -1088,14 +1088,15 @@ class OEMHandler(object):
             if (uploadthread.rspstatus >= 300
                     or uploadthread.rspstatus < 200):
                 rsp = uploadthread.rsp
-                errmsg = ''
+                errmsg = f'Update attempt resulted in response status {uploadthread.rspstatus}'
                 try:
                     rsp = json.loads(rsp)
                     errmsg = (
                         rsp['error'][
                             '@Message.ExtendedInfo'][0]['Message'])
                 except Exception:
-                    raise Exception(uploadthread.rsp)
+                    errmsg = errmsg + ': ' + repr(rsp)
+                    raise Exception(errmsg)
                 raise Exception(errmsg)
             return self.continue_update(uploadthread, progress)
         finally:
diff --git a/pyghmi/redfish/oem/lenovo/xcc.py b/pyghmi/redfish/oem/lenovo/xcc.py
index f476d50a..a1f81089 100644
--- a/pyghmi/redfish/oem/lenovo/xcc.py
+++ b/pyghmi/redfish/oem/lenovo/xcc.py
@@ -1320,14 +1320,15 @@ class OEMHandler(generic.OEMHandler):
             if (uploadthread.rspstatus >= 300
                     or uploadthread.rspstatus < 200):
                 rsp = uploadthread.rsp
-                errmsg = ''
+                errmsg = f'Update attempt resulted in response status {uploadthread.rspstatus}'
                 try:
                     rsp = json.loads(rsp)
                     errmsg = (
                         rsp['error'][
                             '@Message.ExtendedInfo'][0]['Message'])
                 except Exception:
-                    raise Exception(uploadthread.rsp)
+                    errmsg = f'Update attempt resulted in response status {uploadthread.rspstatus}: "{repr(rsp)}"'
+                    raise Exception(errmsg)
                 raise Exception(errmsg)
             rsp = json.loads(uploadthread.rsp)
             monitorurl = rsp['@odata.id']