diff --git a/plugin/plugin.jelly b/plugin/plugin.jelly
index 58294746..81471f6b 100644
--- a/plugin/plugin.jelly
+++ b/plugin/plugin.jelly
@@ -277,14 +277,18 @@
   <define:taglib uri="assert">
     <define:tag name="assertFileExists">
       <!-- @file : Full file path -->
+      <!-- @msg  : optional message to be displayed -->
       <u:file var="fileAsFile" name="${file}"/>
       <j:if test="${!(fileAsFile.exists())}">
-        <ant:fail>${file} does not exist</ant:fail>
+        <ant:fail>${file} does not exist.${msg}</ant:fail>
       </j:if>      
     </define:tag>
     <define:tag name="assertEquals">
+      <!-- @expected  : the expected value -->
+      <!-- @actual    : the actual value   -->
+      <!-- @msg       : optional message to be displayed -->
       <j:if test="${not(expected.equals(value))}">
-        <ant:fail>Expected [${expected}] but got [${value}]</ant:fail>
+        <ant:fail>Expected [${expected}] but got [${value}].${msg}</ant:fail>
       </j:if>
     </define:tag>
   </define:taglib>
diff --git a/plugin/xdocs/changes.xml b/plugin/xdocs/changes.xml
index feb62cb4..bb7604e4 100644
--- a/plugin/xdocs/changes.xml
+++ b/plugin/xdocs/changes.xml
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@
   </properties>
   <body>
     <release version="1.3-SNAPSHOT" date="in CVS">
+      <action dev="dion" type="update">
+        Add optional msg attribute to assertFileExists and assertEquals tags
+      </action>
       <action dev="brett" type="fix" issue="MPPLUGIN-12">
         Don't uninstall incorrect plugins when running plugin:download
       </action>
