diff --git a/gatorgrade/output/output.py b/gatorgrade/output/output.py
index d8458a83..cc13c411 100644
--- a/gatorgrade/output/output.py
+++ b/gatorgrade/output/output.py
@@ -105,6 +105,8 @@ def create_report_json(
         # grab all of the information in it and add it to the checks list
         results_json = checkResults[i].json_info
         results_json["status"] = checkResults[i].passed
+        if not checkResults[i].passed:
+            results_json["diagnostic"] = checkResults[i].diagnostic
         checks_list.append(results_json)
 
     # create the dictionary for all of the check information
@@ -179,6 +181,8 @@ def create_markdown_report_file(json: dict) -> str:
         elif "command" in check:
             val = check["command"]
             markdown_contents += f"\n\t- **command:** {val}"
+        if 'diagnostic' in check:
+            markdown_contents += f"\n\t- **diagnostic:** {check['diagnostic']}"
         markdown_contents += "\n"
 
     return markdown_contents
diff --git a/tests/output/test_output.py b/tests/output/test_output.py
index 2b7e240b..325068ea 100644
--- a/tests/output/test_output.py
+++ b/tests/output/test_output.py
@@ -246,6 +246,7 @@ def test_json_report_file_created_correctly():
                     "File": "hello-world.py",
                 },
                 "status": False,
+                "diagnostic": "Found 0 fragment(s) in the hello-world.py or the output while expecting exactly 1",
             },
             {
                 "description": 'Invalid GatorGrader check: "--description Call the "greet" function in hello - world.py MatchFileFragment--fragment greet(--count 2 E--directory tests / test_assignment / src--file hello - world.py\ ',
@@ -256,6 +257,7 @@ def test_json_report_file_created_correctly():
                     "File": "hello-world.py",
                 },
                 "status": False,
+                "diagnostic":"\"<class 'gator.exceptions.InvalidSystemArgumentsError'>\" thrown by GatorGrader",
             },
         ],
     }