diff --git a/mongoengine/fields.py b/mongoengine/fields.py
index 73bc7562..866dc7e3 100644
--- a/mongoengine/fields.py
+++ b/mongoengine/fields.py
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ class ListField(BaseField):
         try:
             [self.field.validate(item) for item in value]
         except Exception, err:
-            raise ValidationError('Invalid ListField item (%s)' % str(err))
+            raise ValidationError('Invalid ListField item (%s)' % str(item))
 
     def prepare_query_value(self, op, value):
         if op in ('set', 'unset'):