diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 10b90cfced..c0d23bd915 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ be loading the database from disk.  While loading, the server not respond to any
 indicates whether the server is ready for more commands.  When ready, `node_redis` emits a `ready` event.
 Setting `no_ready_check` to `true` will inhibit this check.
 
-
+```js
     var redis = require("redis"),
         client = redis.createClient(null, null, {detect_buffers: true});
 
@@ -202,6 +202,7 @@ Setting `no_ready_check` to `true` will inhibit this check.
         console.log(reply.toString()); // Will print `<Buffer 4f 4b>`
     });
     client.end();
+```
 
 `createClient()` returns a `RedisClient` object that is named `client` in all of the examples here.
 
@@ -212,6 +213,9 @@ first command after connecting.  This can be tricky to coordinate with reconnect
 etc.  To make this easier, `client.auth()` stashes `password` and will send it after each connection,
 including reconnections.  `callback` is invoked only once, after the response to the very first
 `AUTH` command sent.
+NOTE: Your call to `client.auth()` should not be inside the ready handler. If
+you are doing this wrong, `client` will emit an error that looks
+something like this `Error: Ready check failed: ERR operation not permitted`.
 
 ## client.end()
 
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 5c7799a8f8..eb27628b97 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -160,11 +160,11 @@ RedisClient.prototype.do_auth = function () {
                 }, 2000); // TODO - magic number alert
                 return;
             } else {
-                return self.emit("error", "Auth error: " + err);
+                return self.emit("error", new Error("Auth error: " + err.message));
             }
         }
         if (res.toString() !== "OK") {
-            return self.emit("error", "Auth failed: " + res.toString());
+            return self.emit("error", new Error("Auth failed: " + res.toString()));
         }
         if (exports.debug_mode) {
             console.log("Auth succeeded " + self.host + ":" + self.port + " id " + self.connection_id);
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ RedisClient.prototype.on_info_cmd = function (err, res) {
     var self = this, obj = {}, lines, retry_time;
 
     if (err) {
-        return self.emit("error", "Ready check failed: " + err);
+        return self.emit("error", new Error("Ready check failed: " + err.message));
     }
 
     lines = res.toString().split("\r\n");