diff --git a/bindings/java/src/jni/javasigar.c b/bindings/java/src/jni/javasigar.c
index c8ab0dd5..2fcd01d9 100644
--- a/bindings/java/src/jni/javasigar.c
+++ b/bindings/java/src/jni/javasigar.c
@@ -114,6 +114,13 @@ static void sigar_throw_notimpl(JNIEnv *env, char *msg)
     JENV->ThrowNew(env, errorClass, msg);
 }
 
+static void sigar_throw_ptql_malformed(JNIEnv *env, char *msg)
+{
+    jclass errorClass = SIGAR_FIND_CLASS("ptql/MalformedQueryException");
+
+    JENV->ThrowNew(env, errorClass, msg);
+}
+
 static void sigar_throw_error(JNIEnv *env, jni_sigar_t *jsigar, int err)
 {
     jclass errorClass;
@@ -1199,7 +1206,15 @@ JNIEXPORT void SIGAR_JNI(ptql_SigarProcessQuery_create)
     }
 
     if (status != SIGAR_OK) {
-        sigar_throw_exception(env, "Malformed query"); /*XXX*/
+        char buf[1024], *msg=buf;
+        if (status == SIGAR_PTQL_MALFORMED_QUERY) {
+            msg = "Malformed query";
+        }
+        else {
+            sigar_strerror_get(status, buf, sizeof(buf));
+        }
+
+        sigar_throw_ptql_malformed(env, msg);
     }
     else {
         sigar_set_pointer(env, obj, query);
diff --git a/bindings/java/src/org/hyperic/sigar/ptql/ProcessQueryFactory.java b/bindings/java/src/org/hyperic/sigar/ptql/ProcessQueryFactory.java
index 5180fc75..aaf5ac2f 100644
--- a/bindings/java/src/org/hyperic/sigar/ptql/ProcessQueryFactory.java
+++ b/bindings/java/src/org/hyperic/sigar/ptql/ProcessQueryFactory.java
@@ -160,11 +160,7 @@ public class ProcessQueryFactory implements Comparator {
 
         if (useNative) {
             pQuery = new SigarProcessQuery();
-            try {
-                ((SigarProcessQuery)pQuery).create(query);
-            } catch (SigarException e) {
-                throw new MalformedQueryException(e.getMessage());
-            }
+            ((SigarProcessQuery)pQuery).create(query);
             cache.put(query, pQuery);
             return pQuery;
         }
diff --git a/bindings/java/src/org/hyperic/sigar/ptql/SigarProcessQuery.java b/bindings/java/src/org/hyperic/sigar/ptql/SigarProcessQuery.java
index a3d8442f..4cbb2e8d 100644
--- a/bindings/java/src/org/hyperic/sigar/ptql/SigarProcessQuery.java
+++ b/bindings/java/src/org/hyperic/sigar/ptql/SigarProcessQuery.java
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ public class SigarProcessQuery implements ProcessQuery {
     long longSigarWrapper = 0; //same, but where sizeof(void*) > sizeof(int)
 
     native void create(String ptql)
-        throws SigarException;
+        throws MalformedQueryException;
 
     native void destroy();
 
diff --git a/include/sigar_ptql.h b/include/sigar_ptql.h
index 7842452b..1c5b1ecf 100644
--- a/include/sigar_ptql.h
+++ b/include/sigar_ptql.h
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 #ifndef SIGAR_PTQL_H
 #define SIGAR_PTQL_H
 
+#define SIGAR_PTQL_MALFORMED_QUERY -1
+
 typedef struct sigar_ptql_query_t sigar_ptql_query_t;
 
 typedef int (*sigar_ptql_re_impl_t)(void *, char *, char *);
diff --git a/src/sigar_ptql.c b/src/sigar_ptql.c
index 52c24273..3b2c163e 100644
--- a/src/sigar_ptql.c
+++ b/src/sigar_ptql.c
@@ -35,9 +35,6 @@
 #define strtonum_failed(src, ptr) \
     ((src == ptr) || (errno == ERANGE) || (*ptr != '\0'))
 
-/* XXX need more specific errors */
-#define SIGAR_PTQL_MALFORMED_QUERY 1
-
 typedef struct ptql_parse_branch_t ptql_parse_branch_t;
 typedef struct ptql_branch_t ptql_branch_t;
 
@@ -631,7 +628,7 @@ static int ptql_branch_init_pid(ptql_parse_branch_t *parsed,
             char *ptr;
             branch->data.pid = str2pid(parsed->value, ptr);
             if (strtonum_failed(parsed->value, ptr)) {
-                return SIGAR_PTQL_MALFORMED_QUERY;
+                return EINVAL;
             }
         }
         return SIGAR_OK;
@@ -652,7 +649,7 @@ static int ptql_branch_init_pid(ptql_parse_branch_t *parsed,
 
     }
     else {
-        return SIGAR_PTQL_MALFORMED_QUERY;
+        return EINVAL;
     }
 }
 
@@ -675,7 +672,7 @@ static int ptql_pid_match(sigar_t *sigar,
         }
         match_pid = strtoull(buffer, &ptr, 10);
         if (strtonum_failed(buffer, ptr)) {
-            return SIGAR_PTQL_MALFORMED_QUERY;
+            return errno;
         }
     }
     else if (branch->flags == PTQL_PID_SERVICE) {
@@ -711,7 +708,7 @@ static int ptql_args_branch_init(ptql_parse_branch_t *parsed,
 
         if (strtonum_failed(parsed->attr, end)) {
             /* conversion failed */
-            return SIGAR_PTQL_MALFORMED_QUERY;
+            return errno;
         }
     }
     return SIGAR_OK;
@@ -830,7 +827,7 @@ static int ptql_branch_init_port(ptql_parse_branch_t *parsed,
         branch->flags = SIGAR_NETCONN_UDP;
     }
     else {
-        return SIGAR_PTQL_MALFORMED_QUERY;        
+        return EINVAL;
     }
 
     branch->data.ui32 = atoi(parsed->value); /*XXX*/
@@ -1005,7 +1002,7 @@ static int ptql_branch_parse(char *query, ptql_parse_branch_t *branch)
                 branch->op_flags |= PTQL_OP_FLAG_PARENT;
                 break;
               default:
-                return SIGAR_PTQL_MALFORMED_QUERY;
+                return EINVAL;
             }
 
             ++query;
@@ -1142,7 +1139,7 @@ static int ptql_branch_add(ptql_parse_branch_t *parsed,
         if (!is_set) {
             branch->value.ui64 = strtoull(parsed->value, &ptr, 10);
             if (strtonum_failed(parsed->value, ptr)) {
-                return SIGAR_PTQL_MALFORMED_QUERY;
+                return errno;
             }
         }
         break;
@@ -1151,7 +1148,7 @@ static int ptql_branch_add(ptql_parse_branch_t *parsed,
         if (!is_set) {
             branch->value.ui32 = strtoul(parsed->value, &ptr, 10);
             if (strtonum_failed(parsed->value, ptr)) {
-                return SIGAR_PTQL_MALFORMED_QUERY;
+                return errno;
             }
         }
         break;
@@ -1160,7 +1157,7 @@ static int ptql_branch_add(ptql_parse_branch_t *parsed,
         if (!is_set) {
             branch->value.dbl = strtod(parsed->value, &ptr);
             if (strtonum_failed(parsed->value, ptr)) {
-                return SIGAR_PTQL_MALFORMED_QUERY;
+                return errno;
             }
         }
         break;