diff --git a/lib/delphi/src/Thrift.pas b/lib/delphi/src/Thrift.pas
index 50513d3..dceb256 100644
--- a/lib/delphi/src/Thrift.pas
+++ b/lib/delphi/src/Thrift.pas
@@ -60,17 +60,26 @@
   // base class for IDL-generated exceptions
   TException = class( SysUtils.Exception)
   public
-    procedure Message;  // hide inherited property to prevent accidental read/write
+    function Message : string;        // hide inherited property: allow read, but prevent accidental writes
+    procedure UpdateMessageProperty;  // update inherited message property with toString()
   end;
 
 implementation
 
 { TException }
 
-procedure TException.Message;
-// hide inherited property to prevent accidental read/write
+function TException.Message;
+// allow read (exception summary), but prevent accidental writes
+// read will return the exception summary
 begin
-  ASSERT( FALSE, 'Unexpected call to '+ClassName+'.message. Forgot the underscore?');
+  result := Self.ToString;
+end;
+
+procedure TException.UpdateMessageProperty;
+// Update the inherited Message property to better conform to standard behaviour.
+// Nice benefit: The IDE is now able to show the exception message again.
+begin
+  inherited Message := Self.ToString;  // produces a summary text
 end;
 
 { TApplicationException }
diff --git a/lib/delphi/test/TestServer.pas b/lib/delphi/test/TestServer.pas
index ecaf80d..26d49d2 100644
--- a/lib/delphi/test/TestServer.pas
+++ b/lib/delphi/test/TestServer.pas
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@
     x := TXception.Create;
     x.ErrorCode := 1001;
     x.Message_ := 'This is an Xception';
+    x.UpdateMessageProperty;
     raise x;
   end;
 end;
@@ -280,6 +281,7 @@
     x := TXception.Create;
     x.ErrorCode := 1001;
     x.Message_ := 'This is an Xception';
+    x.UpdateMessageProperty;
     raise x;
   end else
   if ( arg0 = 'Xception2') then
@@ -288,6 +290,7 @@
     x2.ErrorCode := 2002;
     x2.Struct_thing := TXtructImpl.Create;
     x2.Struct_thing.String_thing := 'This is an Xception2';
+    x2.UpdateMessageProperty;
     raise x2;
   end;