diff --git a/tes/sshwrapper/__init__.py b/tes/sshwrapper/__init__.py
index 7b97fc9db44a1ba173437badd10bbd96797d5fa6..cea74a6f58038b011f1b1278853cf3a24aef7e91 100644
--- a/tes/sshwrapper/__init__.py
+++ b/tes/sshwrapper/__init__.py
@@ -179,12 +179,12 @@ class Ssh:
             ctrl_p.kill()
             (stdout,stderr) = ctrl_p.communicate()
             logger.error('control socket error {} {}'.format(stdout,stderr))
-            raise SshCtrlException(error.decode())
+            raise SshCtrlException(stderr.decode())
         if not stat.S_ISSOCK(mode):
             ctrl_p.kill()
             (stdout,stderr) = ctrl_p.communicate()
             logger.error('control socket error {} {}'.format(stdout,stderr))
-            raise SshCtrlException(error.decode())
+            raise SshCtrlException(stderr.decode())
 
         sess.lock.release()
         return ctrlsocket