diff --git a/bigchaindb/lib.py b/bigchaindb/lib.py
index f6761aa6..ea300e99 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/lib.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/lib.py
@@ -100,7 +100,10 @@ class BigchainDB(object):
 
         error = response.get('error')
         if error:
-            return (500, error)
+            status = error.get('status', 500)
+            message = error.get('message', 'Internal error')
+            data = error.get('data', '')
+            return (status, message + ' - ' + data)
 
         result = response['result']
         if mode == self.mode_commit: