diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index c317d2f3..0faf410e 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ Noteworthy changes in version 1.24.0 (unrelease)
  * cpp: Provide information about designated revocation keys for a Key.
    [T7118]
 
+ * cpp: Add safer member function returning text describing an error.
+   [T5960]
+
  * qt: Install headers for Qt 5 and Qt 6 in separate folders.  [T7161]
 
  * qt: Allow reading the data to decrypt/encrypt/sign/verify directly from
@@ -39,6 +42,7 @@ Noteworthy changes in version 1.24.0 (unrelease)
  cpp: Key::revocationKey                 NEW.
  cpp: Key::numRevocationKeys             NEW.
  cpp: Key::revocationKeys                NEW.
+ cpp: Error::asStdString                 NEW.
  qt: DecryptVerifyJob::setInputFile      NEW.
  qt: DecryptVerifyJob::inputFile         NEW.
  qt: DecryptVerifyJob::setOutputFile     NEW.
diff --git a/lang/cpp/src/context.cpp b/lang/cpp/src/context.cpp
index 99e354df..4882c80c 100644
--- a/lang/cpp/src/context.cpp
+++ b/lang/cpp/src/context.cpp
@@ -130,6 +130,13 @@ const char *Error::asString() const
     return mMessage.c_str();
 }
 
+std::string Error::asStdString() const
+{
+    std::string message;
+    format_error(static_cast<gpgme_error_t>(mErr), message);
+    return message;
+}
+
 int Error::code() const
 {
     return gpgme_err_code(mErr);
diff --git a/lang/cpp/src/error.h b/lang/cpp/src/error.h
index d1367046..bc970e36 100644
--- a/lang/cpp/src/error.h
+++ b/lang/cpp/src/error.h
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ public:
 
     const char *source() const;
     const char *asString() const;
+    std::string asStdString() const;
 
     int code() const;
     int sourceID() const;