diff --git a/airbrake/notifier.py b/airbrake/notifier.py
index 7e5d39b..4178965 100644
--- a/airbrake/notifier.py
+++ b/airbrake/notifier.py
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ def __init__(self, exc_info=None, message=None, filename=None,
             self.data.update(
                 {'type': self.exc_info[1].__class__.__name__,
                  'backtrace': format_backtrace(self.exc_info[2]),
-                 'message': tbmessage})
+                 'message': message or tbmessage})
         else:
             raise TypeError(
                 "Airbrake module (notifier.Error) received "