diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 786375d3..eb52cd2d 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "zkapp-cli",
-  "version": "0.4.19",
+  "version": "0.4.20",
   "lockfileVersion": 2,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "zkapp-cli",
-      "version": "0.4.19",
+      "version": "0.4.20",
       "hasInstallScript": true,
       "license": "Apache-2.0",
       "dependencies": {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index caa8b1e2..80d5feb7 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "zkapp-cli",
-  "version": "0.4.19",
+  "version": "0.4.20",
   "description": "CLI to create a zkApp (\"zero-knowledge app\") for Mina Protocol.",
   "keywords": [
     "cli",
diff --git a/src/lib/deploy.js b/src/lib/deploy.js
index 929ec184..f2ebf888 100644
--- a/src/lib/deploy.js
+++ b/src/lib/deploy.js
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ const { table, getBorderCharacters } = require('table');
 const glob = require('fast-glob');
 const { step } = require('./helpers');
 const fetch = require('node-fetch');
+const util = require('util');
 
 const { red, green, bold, reset } = require('chalk');
 const log = console.log;
@@ -419,7 +420,7 @@ async function deploy({ alias, yes }) {
 
   if (!txn || txn?.kind === 'error') {
     // Note that the thrown error object is already console logged via step().
-    log(red(getErrorMessage(txn.message ?? [])));
+    log(red(getErrorMessage(txn)));
     await shutdown();
     return;
   }
@@ -563,7 +564,11 @@ function getAccountQuery(publicKey) {
   }`;
 }
 
-function getErrorMessage(errors) {
+function getErrorMessage(error) {
+  let errors = error?.message ?? [];
+  if (errors.length === 0) {
+    return `Failed to send transaction. Unknown error: ${util.format(error)}`;
+  }
   let errorMessage =
     '  Failed to send transaction to relayer. Errors: ' +
     errors.map((e) => e.message);