diff --git a/client-src/default/overlay.js b/client-src/default/overlay.js
index 6fd9d2ebf3..3f9a52ac21 100644
--- a/client-src/default/overlay.js
+++ b/client-src/default/overlay.js
@@ -113,7 +113,8 @@ function clear() {
 function showMessage(messages) {
   ensureOverlayDivExists((div) => {
     // Make it look similar to our terminal.
-    const text = ansiHTML(entities.encode(messages[0]));
+    const errorMessage = messages[0].message || messages[0];
+    const text = ansiHTML(entities.encode(errorMessage));
 
     div.innerHTML = `<span style="color: #${colors.red}">Failed to compile.</span><br><br>${text}`;
   });