diff --git a/Lib/BaseHTTPServer.py b/Lib/BaseHTTPServer.py
index deaf2f9..ce9ade9 100644
--- a/Lib/BaseHTTPServer.py
+++ b/Lib/BaseHTTPServer.py
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@
         # using _quote_html to prevent Cross Site Scripting attacks (see bug #1100201)
         content = (self.error_message_format %
                    {'code': code, 'message': _quote_html(message), 'explain': explain})
-        self.send_response(code, message)
+        self.send_response(code, short)
         self.send_header("Content-Type", self.error_content_type)
         self.send_header('Connection', 'close')
         self.end_headers()