diff --git a/ckan/controllers/api.py b/ckan/controllers/api.py
index 012e8d0c595..83b19e89fc1 100644
--- a/ckan/controllers/api.py
+++ b/ckan/controllers/api.py
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ def action(self, logic_function, ver=None):
         except search.SearchIndexError, e:
             return_dict['error'] = {'__type': 'Search Index Error',
                     'message': 'Unable to add package to search index: %s' %
-                    request_data}
+                    str(e)}
             return_dict['success'] = False
             return self._finish(500, return_dict, content_type='json')
         return self._finish_ok(return_dict)