diff --git a/src/libutil/error.cc b/src/libutil/error.cc
index 203d79087..dd9678ee7 100644
--- a/src/libutil/error.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/error.cc
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ const string & BaseError::calcWhat() const
         err.name = sname();
 
         std::ostringstream oss;
-        showErrorInfo(oss, err, false);
+        showErrorInfo(oss, err, loggerSettings.showTrace);
         what_ = oss.str();
 
         return *what_;