diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/OpenSearchException.java b/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/OpenSearchException.java
index 5cf64f873e5cc..a8107a80ea8b7 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/OpenSearchException.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/OpenSearchException.java
@@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ public static void generateFailureXContent(XContentBuilder builder, Params param
                 }
                 t = t.getCause();
             }
-            builder.field(ERROR, ExceptionsHelper.summaryMessage(e));
+            builder.field(ERROR, ExceptionsHelper.summaryMessage(t != null ? t : e));
             return;
         }