diff --git a/jrnl/cli.py b/jrnl/cli.py
index 67109080..93a7e899 100644
--- a/jrnl/cli.py
+++ b/jrnl/cli.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def cli(manual_args=None):
         return run(args)
 
     except JrnlError as e:
-        print(e, file=sys.stderr)
+        print(e.message, file=sys.stderr)
         return 1
 
     except KeyboardInterrupt: