diff --git a/disco/api/http.py b/disco/api/http.py
index dfa356d..088b69e 100644
--- a/disco/api/http.py
+++ b/disco/api/http.py
@@ -143,9 +143,14 @@ class APIException(Exception):
     """
     def __init__(self, response, retries=None):
         self.response = response
+        self.retries = retries
+
         self.code = 0
         self.msg = 'Request Failed ({})'.format(response.status_code)
 
+        if self.retries:
+            self.msg += " after {} retries".format(self.retries)
+
         # Try to decode JSON, and extract params
         try:
             data = self.response.json()