diff --git a/library/Ratel.hs b/library/Ratel.hs
index ccf6712..acb4df0 100644
--- a/library/Ratel.hs
+++ b/library/Ratel.hs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 {-# LANGUAGE ImplicitParams #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings #-}
 
 module Ratel where
 
@@ -54,17 +55,17 @@ notify apiKey maybeManager initialPayload = do
         Left message -> fail message
         Right notice -> return (unwrapNoticeUuid (noticeUuid notice))
 
-
-toError :: (?callStack :: Stack.CallStack) => Exception.SomeException -> Error
+toError :: (Exception.Exception exception, Stack.HasCallStack) => exception -> Error
 toError exception = Error
     { errorBacktrace = Just (toTraces ?callStack)
-    , errorClass = Just (show (Typeable.typeOf exception))
+    , errorClass = Just $ concat [ show (Typeable.typeOf exception)
+                                 , ": "
+                                 , (take 30 . takeWhile (/= '\n')) (Exception.displayException exception)]
     , errorMessage = Just (Exception.displayException exception)
     , errorSource = Nothing
     , errorTags = Nothing
     }
 
-
 toTraces :: Stack.CallStack -> [Trace]
 toTraces callStack = map (uncurry toTrace) (Stack.getCallStack callStack)
 
diff --git a/package.yaml b/package.yaml
index b7dbdfa..45f4b19 100644
--- a/package.yaml
+++ b/package.yaml
@@ -36,4 +36,4 @@ tests:
     - tasty-hspec ==1.1.*
     main: Main.hs
     source-dirs: test-suite
-version: '0.3.3'
+version: '0.4.0'
diff --git a/test-suite/RatelSpec.hs b/test-suite/RatelSpec.hs
index 5e98e04..6097392 100644
--- a/test-suite/RatelSpec.hs
+++ b/test-suite/RatelSpec.hs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ module RatelSpec (spec) where
 
 import qualified Control.Exception as Exception
 import qualified Ratel
-import Test.Tasty.Hspec
+import           Test.Tasty.Hspec
 
 spec :: Spec
 spec = describe "Ratel" $ do
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ spec = describe "Ratel" $ do
                                     , Ratel.traceNumber = Just "16:34"
                                     }
                                 ]
-                            , Ratel.errorClass = Just "SomeException"
+                            , Ratel.errorClass = Just "SomeException: something went wrong"
                             , Ratel.errorMessage = Just "\
                                 \something went wrong\n\
                                 \CallStack (from HasCallStack):\n\
@@ -31,3 +31,27 @@ spec = describe "Ratel" $ do
                             , Ratel.errorTags = Nothing
                             }
                     actual `shouldBe` expected)
+        it "should abbreviate longer errors" $ do
+          Exception.catch
+                (do
+                    _ <- error "something went wrong, and now the server is on fire"
+                    True `shouldBe` False)
+                (\ exception -> do
+                    let actual = Ratel.toError (exception :: Exception.SomeException)
+                    let expected = Ratel.Error
+                            { Ratel.errorBacktrace = Just
+                                [ Ratel.Trace
+                                    { Ratel.traceFile = Just "test-suite/RatelSpec.hs"
+                                    , Ratel.traceMethod = Just "RatelSpec.toError"
+                                    , Ratel.traceNumber = Just "40:34"
+                                    }
+                                ]
+                            , Ratel.errorClass = Just "SomeException: something went wrong, and now "
+                            , Ratel.errorMessage = Just "\
+                                \something went wrong, and now the server is on fire\n\
+                                \CallStack (from HasCallStack):\n\
+                                \  error, called at test-suite/RatelSpec.hs:37:26 in main:RatelSpec"
+                            , Ratel.errorSource = Nothing
+                            , Ratel.errorTags = Nothing
+                            }
+                    actual `shouldBe` expected)