diff --git a/src/main/java/org/asciidoc/intellij/AsciiDoc.java b/src/main/java/org/asciidoc/intellij/AsciiDoc.java
index 1d8f83898..1f100afca 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/asciidoc/intellij/AsciiDoc.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/asciidoc/intellij/AsciiDoc.java
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ public String render(String text, List<String> extensions, Notifier notifier) {
       } catch (AsciidoctorCoreException ace) {
         log.warn("unable to render AsciidDoc document", ace);
         logHandler.log(new LogRecord(Severity.FATAL, ace.getMessage()));
-        return null;
+        return "unable to render AsciidDoc document: " + ace.getMessage() + "<p>(the full exception stack trace is available in the IDE's log file)";
       } finally {
         asciidoctor.unregisterLogHandler(logHandler);
         SystemOutputHijacker.deregister();