diff --git a/spec/suites/SpecRunningSpec.js b/spec/suites/SpecRunningSpec.js
index 2dea698..49a986d 100644
--- a/spec/suites/SpecRunningSpec.js
+++ b/spec/suites/SpecRunningSpec.js
@@ -1083,4 +1083,55 @@ describe("jasmine spec running", function () {
     expect(exceptionMessage).toEqual('explodes function should not have been called');
   });
 
+  it("should recover gracefully when there are errors in describe functions", function() {
+    var specs = [];
+    var superSimpleReporter = new jasmine.Reporter();
+    superSimpleReporter.reportSpecResults = function(spec) {
+      specs.push("Spec: " + spec.getFullName());
+      var results = spec.results().getItems();
+      for (var i = 0; i < results.length; i++) {
+        var result = results[i];
+        specs.push("Result: " + result);
+      }
+    };
+
+    try {
+      env.describe("outer1", function() {
+        env.describe("inner1", function() {
+          env.it("should thingy", function() {
+            this.expect(true).toEqual(true);
+          });
+
+          throw new Error("fake error");
+        });
+
+        env.describe("inner2", function() {
+          env.it("should other thingy", function() {
+            this.expect(true).toEqual(true);
+          });
+        });
+      });
+    } catch(e) {}
+
+    env.describe("outer2", function() {
+      env.it("should xxx", function() {
+        this.expect(true).toEqual(true);
+      });
+    });
+
+    env.addReporter(superSimpleReporter);
+    env.execute();
+
+    expect(specs).toEqual([
+      'Spec: outer1 inner1 should thingy.',
+      'Result: Passed.',
+      'Spec: outer1 encountered a declaration exception.',
+      'Result: Error: fake error',
+      'Spec: outer1 inner2 should other thingy.',
+      'Result: Passed.',
+      'Spec: outer2 should xxx.',
+      'Result: Passed.'
+    ]);
+  });
+
 });
diff --git a/src/Env.js b/src/Env.js
index 94606b0..e62bdff 100644
--- a/src/Env.js
+++ b/src/Env.js
@@ -96,10 +96,21 @@ jasmine.Env.prototype.describe = function(description, specDefinitions) {
 
   this.currentSuite = suite;
 
-  specDefinitions.call(suite);
+  var declarationError = null;
+  try {
+    specDefinitions.call(suite);
+  } catch(e) {
+    declarationError = e;
+  }
 
   this.currentSuite = parentSuite;
 
+  if (declarationError) {
+    this.it("encountered a declaration exception", function() {
+      throw declarationError;
+    });
+  }
+
   return suite;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/base.js b/src/base.js
index b3d914e..2948888 100755
--- a/src/base.js
+++ b/src/base.js
@@ -57,6 +57,10 @@ jasmine.MessageResult = function(text) {
   this.trace = new Error(); // todo: test better
 };
 
+jasmine.MessageResult.prototype.toString = function() {
+  return this.text;
+};
+
 jasmine.ExpectationResult = function(params) {
   this.type = 'ExpectationResult';
   this.matcherName = params.matcherName;
@@ -71,6 +75,10 @@ jasmine.ExpectationResult = function(params) {
   this.trace = this.passed_ ? '' : new Error(this.message);
 };
 
+jasmine.ExpectationResult.prototype.toString = function () {
+  return this.message;
+};
+
 jasmine.ExpectationResult.prototype.passed = function () {
   return this.passed_;
 };