diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/common/debug.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/common/debug.ts
index b94c9f95fc6..a879dca6abe 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/common/debug.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/common/debug.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ export interface IRawModelUpdate {
 
 export interface IRawStoppedDetails {
 	reason: string;
+	description?: string;
 	threadId?: number;
 	text?: string;
 	totalFrames?: number;
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/debugViewer.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/debugViewer.ts
index e5c02c809d9..99619e21241 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/debugViewer.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/debugViewer.ts
@@ -510,8 +510,8 @@ export class CallStackRenderer implements IRenderer {
 		data.thread.title = nls.localize('thread', "Thread");
 		data.name.textContent = thread.name;
 
-		data.stateLabel.textContent = thread.stopped ? nls.localize({ key: 'pausedOn', comment: ['indicates reason for program being paused'] }, "Paused on {0}", thread.stoppedDetails.reason)
-			: nls.localize({ key: 'running', comment: ['indicates state'] }, "Running");
+		const description = thread.stoppedDetails.description || nls.localize({ key: 'pausedOn', comment: ['indicates reason for program being paused'] }, "Paused on {0}", thread.stoppedDetails.reason);
+		data.stateLabel.textContent = thread.stopped ? description : nls.localize({ key: 'running', comment: ['indicates state'] }, "Running");
 	}
 
 	private renderError(element: string, data: IErrorTemplateData) {
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/debugViews.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/debugViews.ts
index 3882d9d6e2e..fc152c59b99 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/debugViews.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/debugViews.ts
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ export class CallStackView extends CollapsibleViewletView {
 			// Only show the global pause message if we do not display threads.
 			// Otherwsie there will be a pause message per thread and there is no need for a global one.
 			if (newTreeInput instanceof Thread && newTreeInput.stoppedDetails) {
-				this.pauseMessageLabel.text(nls.localize('debugStopped', "Paused on {0}", newTreeInput.stoppedDetails.reason));
+				this.pauseMessageLabel.text(newTreeInput.stoppedDetails.description || nls.localize('debugStopped', "Paused on {0}", newTreeInput.stoppedDetails.reason));
 				if (newTreeInput.stoppedDetails.text) {
 					this.pauseMessageLabel.title(newTreeInput.stoppedDetails.text);
 				}