diff --git a/base/loading.jl b/base/loading.jl
index f1da2ecd41e86..e90cb67937ec6 100644
--- a/base/loading.jl
+++ b/base/loading.jl
@@ -2477,7 +2477,7 @@ function compilecache(pkg::PkgId, path::String, internal_stderr::IO = stderr, in
     if p.exitcode == 125
         return PrecompilableError()
     else
-        error("Failed to precompile $(repr("text/plain", pkg)) to $(repr(tmppath)) (exit code $(p.exitcode)).")
+        error("Failed to precompile $(repr("text/plain", pkg)) to $(repr(tmppath)) ($(Base.process_status(p))).")
     end
 end