1 files changed, 16 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/src/libutil/error.cc b/src/libutil/error.cc
index 0765a2945..59628d875 100644
--- a/src/libutil/error.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/error.cc
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include <iostream>
 #include <optional>
 #include "serialise.hh"
+#include <sstream>
 
 namespace nix {
 
@@ -16,6 +17,21 @@ BaseError & BaseError::addPrefix(const FormatOrString & fs)
     return *this;
 }
 
+const string& BaseError::calcWhat() const
+{
+    if (what_.has_value())
+        return *what_;
+    else {
+        err.name = sname();
+
+        std::ostringstream oss;
+        oss << err;
+        what_ = oss.str();
+
+        return *what_;
+    }
+}
+
 std::optional<string> ErrorInfo::programName = std::nullopt;
 
 std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream &os, const hintformat &hf)