diff --git a/metropolis/node/core/consensus/consensus.go b/metropolis/node/core/consensus/consensus.go
index c36386c..32435e3 100644
--- a/metropolis/node/core/consensus/consensus.go
+++ b/metropolis/node/core/consensus/consensus.go
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@
 	"crypto/ed25519"
 	"crypto/x509"
 	"crypto/x509/pkix"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"math/big"
 	"net"
@@ -405,7 +406,7 @@
 	select {
 	case <-server.Server.ReadyNotify():
 	case <-ctx.Done():
-		return fmt.Errorf("when waiting for bootstrap etcd: %w", err)
+		return errors.New("timed out waiting for etcd to become ready")
 	}
 
 	// ... create a client to it ...