diff --git a/bindings/python-cffi/notmuch2/_errors.py b/bindings/python-cffi/notmuch2/_errors.py
index f55cc96b..17c3ad9c 100644
--- a/bindings/python-cffi/notmuch2/_errors.py
+++ b/bindings/python-cffi/notmuch2/_errors.py
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ class NotmuchError(Exception):
         if self.message:
             return self.message
         elif self.status:
-            return capi.lib.notmuch_status_to_string(self.status)
+            char_str = capi.lib.notmuch_status_to_string(self.status)
+            return capi.ffi.string(char_str).decode(errors='replace')
         else:
             return 'Unknown error'
 
diff --git a/bindings/python-cffi/tests/test_errors.py b/bindings/python-cffi/tests/test_errors.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c2519f86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bindings/python-cffi/tests/test_errors.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+from notmuch2 import _capi as capi
+from notmuch2 import _errors as errors
+
+def test_status_no_message():
+    exc = errors.NotmuchError(capi.lib.NOTMUCH_STATUS_PATH_ERROR)
+    assert exc.status == capi.lib.NOTMUCH_STATUS_PATH_ERROR
+    assert exc.message is None
+    assert str(exc) == 'Path supplied is illegal for this function'