diff --git a/lib/utils.js b/lib/utils.js
index fa24663c..c7299e57 100644
--- a/lib/utils.js
+++ b/lib/utils.js
@@ -82,9 +82,12 @@ function repeat_string(str, i) {
 };
 
 function DefaultsError(msg, defs) {
+    Error.call(this, msg)
     this.msg = msg;
     this.defs = defs;
 };
+DefaultsError.prototype = Object.create(Error.prototype)
+DefaultsError.prototype.constructor = DefaultsError
 
 DefaultsError.croak = function(msg, defs) {
     throw new DefaultsError(msg, defs);