diff --git a/lib/xmlrpc/parser.rb b/lib/xmlrpc/parser.rb
index 931f93583b..d27d7c3827 100644
--- a/lib/xmlrpc/parser.rb
+++ b/lib/xmlrpc/parser.rb
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ module XMLRPC
   class FaultException < StandardError
     attr_reader :faultCode, :faultString
 
+    alias message faultString
+
     def initialize(faultCode, faultString)
       @faultCode   = faultCode
       @faultString = faultString