diff --git a/include/dbus-c++/error.h b/include/dbus-c++/error.h
index 57a6471..3f191fe 100644
--- a/include/dbus-c++/error.h
+++ b/include/dbus-c++/error.h
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ class DXXAPI Error : public std::exception
 
   Error(const char *name, const char *message);
 
+  Error(const std::string &name, const std::string &message);
+
   Error(Message &);
 
   ~Error() throw();
@@ -59,6 +61,8 @@ class DXXAPI Error : public std::exception
   void set(const char *name, const char *message);
   // parameters MUST be static strings
 
+  void set(const std::string &name, const std::string &message);
+
   bool is_set() const;
 
   operator bool() const
diff --git a/src/error.cpp b/src/error.cpp
index 7b2d119..c71cc3c 100644
--- a/src/error.cpp
+++ b/src/error.cpp
@@ -52,6 +52,12 @@ Error::Error(const char *name, const char *message)
   set(name, message);
 }
 
+Error::Error(const std::string &name, const std::string &message)
+  : _int(new InternalError)
+{
+  set(name, message);
+}
+
 Error::Error(Message &m)
   : _int(new InternalError)
 {
@@ -82,6 +88,11 @@ void Error::set(const char *name, const char *message)
   dbus_set_error_const(&(_int->error), name, message);
 }
 
+void Error::set(const std::string &name, const std::string &message)
+{
+  dbus_set_error(&(_int->error), name.c_str(), "%s", message.c_str());
+}
+
 const char *Error::what() const throw()
 {
   return _int->error.message;