diff --git a/jbpm-persistence/jbpm-persistence-jpa/src/main/java/org/jbpm/persistence/JpaProcessPersistenceContext.java b/jbpm-persistence/jbpm-persistence-jpa/src/main/java/org/jbpm/persistence/JpaProcessPersistenceContext.java
index f41d337ea8..52c60ded03 100644
--- a/jbpm-persistence/jbpm-persistence-jpa/src/main/java/org/jbpm/persistence/JpaProcessPersistenceContext.java
+++ b/jbpm-persistence/jbpm-persistence-jpa/src/main/java/org/jbpm/persistence/JpaProcessPersistenceContext.java
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ public PersistentCorrelationKey persist(PersistentCorrelationKey correlationKeyI
             }
             return correlationKeyInfo;
         } catch (PersistenceException e) {
-            throw new RuntimeException(correlationKeyInfo + " already exists", e);
+            throw new RuntimeException(correlationKeyInfo + " failed to persist", e);
         }
     }