diff --git a/scrplugin/generator/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scrplugin/helper/ClassScanner.java b/scrplugin/generator/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scrplugin/helper/ClassScanner.java
index dd35f2c..2e12ec1 100644
--- a/scrplugin/generator/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scrplugin/helper/ClassScanner.java
+++ b/scrplugin/generator/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scrplugin/helper/ClassScanner.java
@@ -215,6 +215,8 @@
                 log.debug("Found descriptions " + desc + " in " + annotatedClass.getName());
                 return desc;
             }
+        } catch (final IllegalArgumentException ioe) {
+            throw new SCRDescriptorException("Unable to scan class files: " + annotatedClass.getName() + " (Class file format probably not supported by ASM ?)", location, ioe);
         } catch (final IOException ioe) {
             throw new SCRDescriptorException("Unable to scan class files: " + annotatedClass.getName(), location, ioe);
         }