diff --git a/pkg/engine/engine.go b/pkg/engine/engine.go
index 937a3b4fd..b1bc93040 100644
--- a/pkg/engine/engine.go
+++ b/pkg/engine/engine.go
@@ -200,14 +200,14 @@ func parseTemplateError(filename string, err error) error {
 	tokens := strings.Split(err.Error(), ": ")
 	if len(tokens) == 1 {
 		// This might happen if a non-templating error occurs
-		return fmt.Errorf("render error in %s: %q", filename, err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("render error in (%s): %s", filename, err)
 	}
 	// The first token is "template"
 	// The second token is either "filename:lineno" or "filename:lineNo:columnNo"
 	location := tokens[1]
 	// The remaining tokens make up a stacktrace-like chain, ending with the relevant error
 	errMsg := tokens[len(tokens)-1]
-	return fmt.Errorf("%s (%s)", errMsg, string(location))
+	return fmt.Errorf("render error at (%s): %s", string(location), errMsg)
 }
 
 func sortTemplates(tpls map[string]renderable) []string {
diff --git a/pkg/engine/engine_test.go b/pkg/engine/engine_test.go
index 7c52077f5..9d708f193 100644
--- a/pkg/engine/engine_test.go
+++ b/pkg/engine/engine_test.go
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ func TestRenderErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected failures while rendering: %s", err)
 	}
-	expected := `foo is required (missing_required:1:2)`
+	expected := `render error at (missing_required:1:2): foo is required`
 	if err.Error() != expected {
 		t.Errorf("Expected '%s', got %q", expected, err.Error())
 	}
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ func TestRenderErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected failures while rendering: %s", err)
 	}
-	expected = `function "foo" not defined (undefined_function:1)`
+	expected = `render error at (undefined_function:1): function "foo" not defined`
 	if err.Error() != expected {
 		t.Errorf("Expected '%s', got %q", expected, err.Error())
 	}