diff --git a/index.d.ts b/index.d.ts
index 17b155372a..76a20bfb38 100644
--- a/index.d.ts
+++ b/index.d.ts
@@ -336,7 +336,9 @@ declare namespace execa {
 		extends Error,
 			ExecaReturnBase<StdoutErrorType> {
 		/**
-		The error message.
+		Error message when the child process failed to run. In addition to the underlying error message, it also contains some information related to why the child process errored.
+
+		The child process stderr then stdout are appended to the end, separated with newlines and not interleaved.
 		*/
 		message: string;
 
diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 603677b412..68d59863ae 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -304,11 +304,19 @@ A human-friendly description of the signal that was used to terminate the proces
 
 If a signal terminated the process, this property is defined and included in the error message. Otherwise it is `undefined`. It is also `undefined` when the signal is very uncommon which should seldomly happen.
 
+#### message
+
+Type: `string`
+
+Error message when the child process failed to run. In addition to the [underlying error message](#originalMessage), it also contains some information related to why the child process errored.
+
+The child process [stderr](#stderr) then [stdout](#stdout) are appended to the end, separated with newlines and not interleaved.
+
 #### shortMessage
 
 Type: `string`
 
-This is the same as the `message` property except it does not include the child process stdout/stderr.
+This is the same as the [`message` property](#message) except it does not include the child process stdout/stderr.
 
 #### originalMessage