diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index de37f88..ffa4dd5 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # assertr development version
 
+* Assert errors now print the description in the error summary (PR #132)
+
 * Added the ability to check non-numeric classes with `within_bounds()`
   (fix #89)
 
diff --git a/R/errors.R b/R/errors.R
index 38b0d01..068ebb5 100644
--- a/R/errors.R
+++ b/R/errors.R
@@ -148,6 +148,10 @@ print.assertr_defect <- function(x, ...){
 #'
 #' @export
 summary.assertr_assert_error <- function(object, ...){
+  if (!is.na(object$description)) {
+    cat(object$description)
+    cat("\n")
+  }
   cat(object$message)
   cat("\n")
   numrows <- nrow(object$error_df)