diff --git a/src/svg/svg_parser.cpp b/src/svg/svg_parser.cpp
index 476bf1d15..49962ea48 100644
--- a/src/svg/svg_parser.cpp
+++ b/src/svg/svg_parser.cpp
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ void handle_unsupported(svg_parser& parser, T const& ar, char const* name)
     {
         if (e == element)
         {
-            parser.err_handler().on_error(std::string("Unsupported:'") + name + "'");
+            parser.err_handler().on_error(std::string("SVG support error: <" + std::string(name) + "> element is not supported"));
         }
     }
 }
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ mapnik::color parse_color(T & err_handler, const char* str)
     }
     catch (mapnik::config_error const& ex)
     {
-        err_handler.on_error(ex.what());
+        err_handler.on_error("SVG parse error: failed to parse <color> with value \"" + std::string(str) + "\"");
     }
     return c;
 }
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ double parse_double(T & err_handler, const char* str)
     double val = 0.0;
     if (!parse(str, str + std::strlen(str),double_,val))
     {
-        err_handler.on_error("Failed to parse double: \"" + std::string(str) + "\"");
+        err_handler.on_error("SVG parse error: failed to parse <number> with value \"" + std::string(str) + "\"");
     }
     return val;
 }
@@ -261,12 +261,7 @@ double parse_svg_value(T & err_handler, const char* str, bool & percent)
                            lit('%')[ref(val) *= 0.01][ref(percent) = true]),
                       skip_type()))
     {
-        err_handler.on_error("Failed to parse SVG value: '" + std::string(str) + "'");
-    }
-    else if (cur != end)
-    {
-        err_handler.on_error("Failed to parse SVG value: '" + std::string(str) +
-                             "', trailing garbage: '" + cur + "'");
+        err_handler.on_error("SVG parse error: failed to parse <number> with value \"" + std::string(str) + "\"");
     }
     return val;
 }
@@ -286,7 +281,7 @@ bool parse_viewbox(T & err_handler, const char* str, V & viewbox)
                       double_ >> -lit(',') >>
                       double_, skip_type(), viewbox))
     {
-        err_handler.on_error("failed to parse SVG viewbox from " + std::string(str));
+        err_handler.on_error("SVG parse error: failed to parse <viewbox> with value \"" + std::string(str) + "\"");
         return false;
     }
     return true;
@@ -379,7 +374,7 @@ std::pair<unsigned,bool> parse_preserve_aspect_ratio(T & err_handler, char const
     }
     catch (qi::expectation_failure<char const*> const& ex)
     {
-        err_handler.on_error("Failed to parse \"preserveAspectRatio\" attribute: '" + std::string(str)  + "'");
+        err_handler.on_error("SVG parse error: failed to parse <preserveAspectRatio> with value \""  + std::string(str)  + "\"");
         return {xMidYMid, true} ; // default
     }
     return preserve_aspect_ratio;
@@ -554,7 +549,7 @@ void parse_stroke(svg_parser& parser, char const* value)
     }
     else if (parse_id_from_url(value, id))
     {
-        // see if we have a known gradient fill
+        // see if we have a known gradient stroke
         if (parser.gradient_map_.count(id) > 0)
         {
             parser.path_.add_stroke_gradient(parser.gradient_map_[id]);
@@ -571,14 +566,14 @@ void parse_stroke(svg_parser& parser, char const* value)
             else
             {
                 std::stringstream ss;
-                ss << "Failed to find gradient stroke: " << id;
+                ss << "SVG parse error: failed to locate <gradient> stroke with <id> \"" << id << "\"";
                 parser.err_handler().on_error(ss.str());
             }
         }
         else
         {
             std::stringstream ss;
-            ss << "Failed to find gradient stroke: " << id;
+            ss << "SVG parse error: failed to locate <gradient> stroke with <id> \"" << id << "\"";
             parser.err_handler().on_error(ss.str());
         }
     }
@@ -614,14 +609,14 @@ void parse_fill(svg_parser& parser, char const* value)
             else
             {
                 std::stringstream ss;
-                ss << "Failed to find gradient fill: " << id;
+                ss << "SVG parse error: failed to locate <gradient> fill with <id> \"" << id << "\"";
                 parser.err_handler().on_error(ss.str());
             }
         }
         else
         {
             std::stringstream ss;
-            ss << "Failed to find gradient fill: " << id;
+            ss << "SVG parse error: failed to locate <gradient> fill with <id> \"" << id << "\"";
             parser.err_handler().on_error(ss.str());
         }
     }
@@ -867,12 +862,12 @@ void parse_path(svg_parser & parser, rapidxml::xml_node<char> const* node)
                 auto const* id_attr = parse_id(parser, node);
                 if (id_attr)
                 {
-                    parser.err_handler().on_error(std::string("unable to parse invalid svg <path> with id '")
-                             + id_attr->value() + "'");
+                    parser.err_handler().on_error(std::string("SVG parse error: failed to parse <path> with <id> \"")
+                                                  + id_attr->value() + "\"");
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                    parser.err_handler().on_error(std::string("unable to parse invalid svg <path>"));
+                    parser.err_handler().on_error(std::string("SVG parse error: failed to parse <path>"));
                 }
             }
             parser.path_.end_path();
@@ -923,11 +918,15 @@ void parse_use(svg_parser & parser, rapidxml::xml_node<char> const* node)
                 }
                 if (w < 0.0)
                 {
-                    parser.err_handler().on_error("parse_use: Invalid width");
+                    std::stringstream ss;
+                    ss << "SVG validation error: invalid <use> width \"" << w <<  "\"";
+                    parser.err_handler().on_error(ss.str());
                 }
                 else if (h < 0.0)
                 {
-                    parser.err_handler().on_error("parse_use: Invalid height");
+                    std::stringstream ss;
+                    ss << "SVG validation error: invalid <use> height \"" << w <<  "\"";
+                    parser.err_handler().on_error(ss.str());
                 }
                 agg::trans_affine t{};
                 if (!node->first_attribute("transform") && w != 0.0 && h != 0.0)
@@ -952,7 +951,7 @@ void parse_polygon(svg_parser & parser, rapidxml::xml_node<char> const* node)
         parser.path_.begin_path();
         if (!mapnik::svg::parse_points(attr->value(), parser.path_))
         {
-            parser.err_handler().on_error(std::string("Failed to parse <polygon> 'points'"));
+            parser.err_handler().on_error(std::string("SVG parse error: failed to parse <polygon> points"));
         }
         parser.path_.close_subpath();
         parser.path_.end_path();
@@ -967,7 +966,7 @@ void parse_polyline(svg_parser & parser, rapidxml::xml_node<char> const* node)
         parser.path_.begin_path();
         if (!mapnik::svg::parse_points(attr->value(), parser.path_))
         {
-            parser.err_handler().on_error(std::string("Failed to parse <polyline> 'points'"));
+            parser.err_handler().on_error(std::string("SVG parse error: failed to parse <polyline> points"));
         }
         parser.path_.end_path();
     }
@@ -1027,7 +1026,9 @@ void parse_circle(svg_parser & parser, rapidxml::xml_node<char> const* node)
     {
         if (r < 0.0)
         {
-            parser.err_handler().on_error("parse_circle: Invalid radius");
+            std::stringstream ss;
+            ss << "SVG validation error: invalid <circle> radius \"" << r << "\"";
+            parser.err_handler().on_error(ss.str());
         }
         else
         {
@@ -1071,14 +1072,17 @@ void parse_ellipse(svg_parser & parser, rapidxml::xml_node<char> const  * node)
 
     if (rx != 0.0 && ry != 0.0)
     {
-
         if (rx < 0.0)
         {
-            parser.err_handler().on_error("parse_ellipse: Invalid rx");
+            std::stringstream ss;
+            ss << "SVG validation error: invalid <ellipse> rx \"" << rx << "\"";
+            parser.err_handler().on_error(ss.str());
         }
         else if (ry < 0.0)
         {
-            parser.err_handler().on_error("parse_ellipse: Invalid ry");
+            std::stringstream ss;
+            ss << "SVG validation error: invalid <ellipse> ry \"" << ry << "\"";
+            parser.err_handler().on_error(ss.str());
         }
         else
         {
@@ -1150,21 +1154,29 @@ void parse_rect(svg_parser & parser, rapidxml::xml_node<char> const* node)
 
     if (w != 0.0 && h != 0.0)
     {
-        if(w < 0.0)
+        if (w < 0.0)
         {
-            parser.err_handler().on_error("parse_rect: Invalid width");
+            std::stringstream ss;
+            ss << "SVG validation error: invalid <rect> width \"" << w << "\"";
+            parser.err_handler().on_error(ss.str());
         }
-        else if(h < 0.0)
+        else if (h < 0.0)
         {
-            parser.err_handler().on_error("parse_rect: Invalid height");
+            std::stringstream ss;
+            ss << "SVG validation error: invalid <rect> height \"" << h << "\"";
+            parser.err_handler().on_error(ss.str());
         }
-        else if(rx < 0.0)
+        else if (rx < 0.0)
         {
-            parser.err_handler().on_error("parse_rect: Invalid rx");
+            std::stringstream ss;
+            ss << "SVG validation error: invalid <rect> rx \"" << rx << "\"";
+            parser.err_handler().on_error(ss.str());
         }
-        else if(ry < 0.0)
+        else if (ry < 0.0)
         {
-            parser.err_handler().on_error("parse_rect: Invalid ry");
+            std::stringstream ss;
+            ss << "SVG validation error: invalid <rect> ry \"" << ry << "\"";
+            parser.err_handler().on_error(ss.str());
         }
         else
         {
@@ -1431,7 +1443,7 @@ void svg_parser::parse(std::string const& filename)
     if (!stream)
     {
         std::stringstream ss;
-        ss << "Unable to open '" << filename << "'";
+        ss << "SVG error: unbale to open \"" << filename << "\"";
         throw std::runtime_error(ss.str());
     }
 
@@ -1449,7 +1461,7 @@ void svg_parser::parse(std::string const& filename)
     catch (rapidxml::parse_error const& ex)
     {
         std::stringstream ss;
-        ss << "svg_parser::parse - Unable to parse '" << filename << "'";
+        ss << "SVG error: unable to parse \"" << filename << "\"";
         throw std::runtime_error(ss.str());
     }
 
@@ -1473,7 +1485,8 @@ void svg_parser::parse_from_string(std::string const& svg)
     catch (rapidxml::parse_error const& ex)
     {
         std::stringstream ss;
-        ss << "Unable to parse '" << svg << "'";
+        std::string str = (svg.length() > 1024) ? svg.substr(0, 1024) + "..." : svg;
+        ss << "SVG error: unable to parse \"" << str << "\"";
         throw std::runtime_error(ss.str());
     }
     for (rapidxml::xml_node<char> const* child = doc.first_node();
diff --git a/test/unit/svg/svg_parser_test.cpp b/test/unit/svg/svg_parser_test.cpp
index b49e3d7d4..18e6e9b10 100644
--- a/test/unit/svg/svg_parser_test.cpp
+++ b/test/unit/svg/svg_parser_test.cpp
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ TEST_CASE("SVG parser") {
         std::string svg_name("FAIL");
         char const* expected_errors[] =
         {
-            "Unable to open 'FAIL'"
+            "SVG error: unbale to open \"FAIL\""
         };
 
         test_parser p;
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ TEST_CASE("SVG parser") {
         std::string svg_name("./test/data/svg/invalid.svg");
         char const* expected_errors[] =
         {
-            "Unable to parse '<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n<svg width=\"12cm\" height=\"4cm\" viewBox=\"0 0 1200 400\"\nxmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\">\n'"
+            "SVG error: unable to parse \"<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n<svg width=\"12cm\" height=\"4cm\" viewBox=\"0 0 1200 400\"\nxmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\">\n\""
         };
 
         std::ifstream in(svg_name.c_str());
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ TEST_CASE("SVG parser") {
         std::string svg_name("./test/data/svg/invalid.svg");
         char const* expected_errors[] =
         {
-            "svg_parser::parse - Unable to parse './test/data/svg/invalid.svg'"
+            "SVG error: unable to parse \"./test/data/svg/invalid.svg\""
         };
 
         test_parser p;
@@ -149,9 +149,9 @@ TEST_CASE("SVG parser") {
         std::string svg_name("./test/data/svg/color_fail.svg");
         char const* expected_errors[] =
         {
-            "Failed to parse color: \"fail\"",
-            "Failed to parse SVG value: 'fail'",
-            "Failed to parse color: \"fail\"",
+            "SVG parse error: failed to parse <color> with value \"fail\"",
+            "SVG parse error: failed to parse <number> with value \"fail\"",
+            "SVG parse error: failed to parse <color> with value \"fail\""
         };
 
         std::ifstream in(svg_name.c_str());
@@ -181,20 +181,20 @@ TEST_CASE("SVG parser") {
         std::string svg_name("./test/data/svg/errors.svg");
         char const* expected_errors[] =
         {
-            "parse_rect: Invalid width",
-            "Failed to parse SVG value: 'FAIL'",
-            "parse_rect: Invalid height",
-            "parse_rect: Invalid rx",
-            "parse_rect: Invalid ry",
-            "Failed to parse SVG value: '100invalidunit', trailing garbage: 'validunit'",
-            "unable to parse invalid svg <path>",
-            "unable to parse invalid svg <path> with id 'fail-path'",
-            "unable to parse invalid svg <path> with id 'fail-path'",
-            "parse_circle: Invalid radius",
-            "Failed to parse <polygon> 'points'",
-            "Failed to parse <polyline> 'points'",
-            "parse_ellipse: Invalid rx",
-            "parse_ellipse: Invalid ry",
+            "SVG validation error: invalid <rect> width \"-100\"",
+            "SVG parse error: failed to parse <number> with value \"FAIL\"",
+            "SVG validation error: invalid <rect> height \"-100\"",
+            "SVG validation error: invalid <rect> rx \"-1000\"",
+            "SVG validation error: invalid <rect> ry \"-1000\"",
+            "SVG parse error: failed to parse <number> with value \"100invalidunit\"",
+            "SVG parse error: failed to parse <path>",
+            "SVG parse error: failed to parse <path> with <id> \"fail-path\"",
+            "SVG parse error: failed to parse <path> with <id> \"fail-path\"",
+            "SVG validation error: invalid <circle> radius \"-50\"",
+            "SVG parse error: failed to parse <polygon> points",
+            "SVG parse error: failed to parse <polyline> points",
+            "SVG validation error: invalid <ellipse> rx \"-10\"",
+            "SVG validation error: invalid <ellipse> ry \"-10\""
         };
 
         std::ifstream in(svg_name.c_str());
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ TEST_CASE("SVG parser") {
         std::string svg_name("./test/data/svg/gradient-radial-error.svg");
         char const* expected_errors[] =
         {
-            "Failed to parse SVG value: 'FAIL'"
+            "SVG parse error: failed to parse <number> with value \"FAIL\""
         };
 
         std::ifstream in(svg_name.c_str());
@@ -666,8 +666,8 @@ TEST_CASE("SVG parser") {
         std::string svg_name("./test/data/svg/gradient-nodef.svg");
         char const* expected_errors[] =
         {
-            "Failed to find gradient fill: MyGradient",
-            "Failed to find gradient stroke: MyGradient",
+            "SVG parse error: failed to locate <gradient> fill with <id> \"MyGradient\"",
+            "SVG parse error: failed to locate <gradient> stroke with <id> \"MyGradient\""
         };
         {
             test_parser p;
@@ -692,8 +692,8 @@ TEST_CASE("SVG parser") {
         std::string svg_name("./test/data/svg/gradient-no-id.svg");
         char const* expected_errors[] =
         {
-            "Failed to find gradient fill: MyGradient",
-            "Failed to find gradient stroke: MyGradient",
+            "SVG parse error: failed to locate <gradient> fill with <id> \"MyGradient\"",
+            "SVG parse error: failed to locate <gradient> stroke with <id> \"MyGradient\""
         };
 
         std::ifstream in(svg_name.c_str());