diff --git a/.eslintrc.yaml b/.eslintrc.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..13d919e42c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.eslintrc.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+---
+extends: ./eslint-config.yaml
+root: true
diff --git a/packages/jsii-pacmak/lib/util.ts b/packages/jsii-pacmak/lib/util.ts
index 2d85818cb8..f97c115c38 100644
--- a/packages/jsii-pacmak/lib/util.ts
+++ b/packages/jsii-pacmak/lib/util.ts
@@ -73,9 +73,20 @@ export async function shell(
         const command = `${cmd} ${args.join(' ')}`;
         return ko(
           new Error(
-            `Command exited with ${reason}:\n- Command: ${command}\n- STDOUT:\n${out}\n- STDERR:\n${err}`,
+            [
+              `Command (${command}) failed with ${reason}:`,
+              prefix(out, '#STDOUT> '),
+              prefix(err, '#STDERR> '),
+            ].join('\n'),
           ),
         );
+
+        function prefix(text: string, add: string): string {
+          return text
+            .split('\n')
+            .map((line) => `${add}${line}`)
+            .join('\n');
+        }
       });
     });
   }