diff --git a/c++.html.markdown b/c++.html.markdown
index 6f4d2959..ff2a98fd 100644
--- a/c++.html.markdown
+++ b/c++.html.markdown
@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ void doSomethingWithAFile(const char* filename)
 {
     FILE* fh = fopen(filename, "r"); // Open the file in read mode
     if (fh == nullptr)
-        throw std::exception();
+        throw std::runtime_error("Could not open the file.");
 
     try {
         doSomethingWithTheFile(fh);