diff --git a/quickfixj-core/src/main/java/quickfix/Session.java b/quickfixj-core/src/main/java/quickfix/Session.java
index 847f5c2885..61e6e716d8 100644
--- a/quickfixj-core/src/main/java/quickfix/Session.java
+++ b/quickfixj-core/src/main/java/quickfix/Session.java
@@ -1214,13 +1214,13 @@ ignore the message and let the problem correct itself (optimistic approach).
                 }
                 if (!(MessageUtils.isAdminMessage(msgType))
                         && (sessionBeginString.compareTo(FixVersions.BEGINSTRING_FIX42) >= 0)) {
-                    generateBusinessReject(message, BusinessRejectReason.APPLICATION_NOT_AVAILABLE,
+                    generateBusinessReject(message, t.getMessage(), BusinessRejectReason.APPLICATION_NOT_AVAILABLE,
                             0);
                 } else {
                     if (MsgType.LOGON.equals(msgType)) {
                         disconnect("Problem processing Logon message", true);
                     } else {
-                        generateReject(message, SessionRejectReason.OTHER, 0);
+                        generateReject(message, t.getMessage(), SessionRejectReason.OTHER, 0);
                     }
                 }
             } else {
@@ -1732,6 +1732,11 @@ private void setRejectReason(Message reject, int field, String reason,
 
     private void generateBusinessReject(Message message, int err, int field) throws FieldNotFound,
             IOException {
+        generateBusinessReject(message, null, err, field);
+    }
+
+    private void generateBusinessReject(Message message, String text, int err, int field) throws FieldNotFound,
+            IOException {
         final Header header = message.getHeader();
         ApplVerID targetDefaultApplicationVersionID = getTargetDefaultApplicationVersionID();
         final Message reject = messageFactory.create(sessionID.getBeginString(), targetDefaultApplicationVersionID,
@@ -1746,7 +1751,12 @@ private void generateBusinessReject(Message message, int err, int field) throws
         reject.setInt(BusinessRejectReason.FIELD, err);
         state.incrNextTargetMsgSeqNum();
 
-        final String reason = BusinessRejectReasonText.getMessage(err);
+        final String reason;
+        if (text != null) {
+            reason = text;
+        } else {
+            reason = BusinessRejectReasonText.getMessage(err);
+        }
         setRejectReason(reject, field, reason, field != 0);
         getLog().onErrorEvent(
                 "Reject sent for message number " + msgSeqNum + (reason != null ? (": " + reason) : "")
diff --git a/quickfixj-core/src/test/java/quickfix/SessionTest.java b/quickfixj-core/src/test/java/quickfix/SessionTest.java
index 35303ffba3..7e23003aba 100644
--- a/quickfixj-core/src/test/java/quickfix/SessionTest.java
+++ b/quickfixj-core/src/test/java/quickfix/SessionTest.java
@@ -1771,7 +1771,7 @@ public void fromApp(Message message, SessionID sessionId)
                     throws FieldNotFound, IncorrectDataFormat,
                     IncorrectTagValue, UnsupportedMessageType {
                 super.fromApp(message, sessionId);
-                throw new Error("TEST");
+                throw new Error("TESTApp");
             }
         };
 
@@ -1788,6 +1788,8 @@ public void fromApp(Message message, SessionID sessionId)
                         .getHeader().getString(MsgType.FIELD));
                 assertEquals(MsgType.BUSINESS_MESSAGE_REJECT, application
                         .lastToAppMessage().getHeader().getString(MsgType.FIELD));
+                assertEquals("TESTApp", application.lastToAppMessage()
+                        .getString(Text.FIELD));
                 
                 session.next(createHeartbeatMessage(3));
                 assertEquals(4, session.getExpectedTargetNum());
@@ -1796,6 +1798,8 @@ public void fromApp(Message message, SessionID sessionId)
                         .getHeader().getString(MsgType.FIELD));
                 assertEquals(MsgType.REJECT, application.lastToAdminMessage()
                         .getHeader().getString(MsgType.FIELD));
+                assertEquals("TESTAdmin", application.lastToAdminMessage()
+                        .getString(Text.FIELD));
                 
                 session.next(createAdminMessage(4));
                 assertEquals(5, session.getExpectedTargetNum());
@@ -1805,6 +1809,8 @@ public void fromApp(Message message, SessionID sessionId)
                         .getString(MsgType.FIELD));
                 assertEquals(MsgType.HEARTBEAT, application.lastToAdminMessage()
                         .getHeader().getString(MsgType.FIELD));
+                assertFalse(application.lastToAdminMessage()
+                        .isSetField(Text.FIELD));
             } catch (final Throwable t) {
                 fail("Error was thrown: " + t.getMessage());
             }