diff --git a/.changeset/light-badgers-doubt.md b/.changeset/light-badgers-doubt.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a36e9eb947
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/light-badgers-doubt.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"uploadthing": patch
+---
+
+[chore] better client errors
diff --git a/packages/uploadthing/src/internal/handler.ts b/packages/uploadthing/src/internal/handler.ts
index c86a2a8123..7b6ed0d876 100644
--- a/packages/uploadthing/src/internal/handler.ts
+++ b/packages/uploadthing/src/internal/handler.ts
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ export const buildRequestHandler = <
       console.error("[UT] middleware failed to run");
       console.error(e);
 
-      return { status: 400, message: (e as Error).message };
+      return { status: 400, message: (e as Error).toString() };
     }
   };
 };
diff --git a/packages/uploadthing/src/next/core/approuter.ts b/packages/uploadthing/src/next/core/approuter.ts
index 13bf5447c1..9b97f3fc7a 100644
--- a/packages/uploadthing/src/next/core/approuter.ts
+++ b/packages/uploadthing/src/next/core/approuter.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ export const createNextRouteHandler = <TRouter extends FileRouter>(
       });
     }
 
-    return new Response("Error", {
+    return new Response(response.message ?? "Unable to upload file.", {
       status: response.status,
       headers: {
         "x-uploadthing-version": UPLOADTHING_VERSION,
diff --git a/packages/uploadthing/src/next/core/page.ts b/packages/uploadthing/src/next/core/page.ts
index 1226a3486a..494ed6711f 100644
--- a/packages/uploadthing/src/next/core/page.ts
+++ b/packages/uploadthing/src/next/core/page.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,6 @@ export const createNextPageApiHandler = <TRouter extends FileRouter>(
     if (response.status === 200) {
       return res.json(response.body);
     }
-    return res.send("Error");
+    return res.send(response.message ?? "Unable to upload file.");
   };
 };