diff --git a/aqt/downloader.py b/aqt/downloader.py
index 34b3c5537..db3dc9d32 100644
--- a/aqt/downloader.py
+++ b/aqt/downloader.py
@@ -60,14 +60,10 @@ class Downloader(QThread):
                 self.error = _("Invalid code, or add-on not available for your version of Anki.")
                 return
             else:
-                self.error = _("Error downloading: %s" % resp.status_code)
+                self.error = _("Unexpected response code: %s" % resp.status_code)
                 return
         except Exception as e:
-            exc = traceback.format_exc()
-            try:
-                self.error = str(e[0])
-            except:
-                self.error = str(exc)
+            self.error = _("Please check your internet connection.") + "\n\n" + str(e)
             return
         finally:
             remHook("httpRecv", recvEvent)