diff --git a/hystrix-core/src/main/java/com/netflix/hystrix/AbstractCommand.java b/hystrix-core/src/main/java/com/netflix/hystrix/AbstractCommand.java
index 33d2bdfdc..6bc6c146a 100644
--- a/hystrix-core/src/main/java/com/netflix/hystrix/AbstractCommand.java
+++ b/hystrix-core/src/main/java/com/netflix/hystrix/AbstractCommand.java
@@ -1536,9 +1536,15 @@ protected RuntimeException decomposeException(Exception e) {
             return (IllegalStateException) e;
         }
         if (e instanceof HystrixBadRequestException) {
+            if (e.getCause() instanceof RuntimeException) {
+                return (RuntimeException)e.getCause();
+            }
             return (HystrixBadRequestException) e;
         }
         if (e.getCause() instanceof HystrixBadRequestException) {
+            if (e.getCause().getCause() instanceof RuntimeException) {
+                return (RuntimeException)e.getCause().getCause();
+            }
             return (HystrixBadRequestException) e.getCause();
         }
         if (e instanceof HystrixRuntimeException) {