diff --git a/CHANGES/464.bugfix b/CHANGES/464.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2f82a82f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES/464.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fixed a bug in reporting the failure of a task if the reason was not an exception in the task code.
diff --git a/pulpcore/cli/common/context.py b/pulpcore/cli/common/context.py
index 699e00b55..ecd719547 100644
--- a/pulpcore/cli/common/context.py
+++ b/pulpcore/cli/common/context.py
@@ -183,7 +183,8 @@ def _check_task_finished(task: EntityDefinition) -> bool:
         elif task["state"] == "failed":
             raise click.ClickException(
                 _("Task {task_href} failed: '{description}'").format(
-                    task_href=task_href, description=task["error"]["description"]
+                    task_href=task_href,
+                    description=task["error"].get("description") or task["error"].get("reason"),
                 )
             )
         elif task["state"] == "canceled":