diff --git a/include/libtorrent/torrent.hpp b/include/libtorrent/torrent.hpp
index cf834e833..61e04f5c1 100644
--- a/include/libtorrent/torrent.hpp
+++ b/include/libtorrent/torrent.hpp
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ namespace libtorrent
 
 		void ip_filter_updated() { m_policy.ip_filter_updated(); }
 
+		void set_error(std::string const& msg) { m_error = msg; }
 		bool has_error() const { return !m_error.empty(); }
 		void pause();
 		void resume();
diff --git a/src/peer_connection.cpp b/src/peer_connection.cpp
index da82bbf15..8f69665fa 100644
--- a/src/peer_connection.cpp
+++ b/src/peer_connection.cpp
@@ -2847,6 +2847,7 @@ namespace libtorrent
 			{
 				t->alerts().post_alert(file_error_alert(j.error_file, t->get_handle(), j.str));
 			}
+			t->set_error(j.str);
 			t->pause();
 			return;
 		}