diff --git a/src/buildx/bake.ts b/src/buildx/bake.ts
index 7b966931..4c47dae8 100644
--- a/src/buildx/bake.ts
+++ b/src/buildx/bake.ts
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ export class Bake {
       silent: true
     }).then(res => {
       if (res.stderr.length > 0 && res.exitCode != 0) {
-        throw new Error(res.stderr);
+        throw new Error(`cannot parse bake definitions: ${res.stderr.match(/(.*)\s*$/)?.[0]?.trim() ?? 'unknown error'}`);
       }
       return <BakeDefinition>JSON.parse(res.stdout.trim());
     });