diff --git a/evennia/commands/default/building.py b/evennia/commands/default/building.py
index 25bc95cbab..49353d89f2 100644
--- a/evennia/commands/default/building.py
+++ b/evennia/commands/default/building.py
@@ -2011,6 +2011,7 @@ class CmdExamine(ObjManipCommand):
         # we have given a specific target object
         for objdef in self.lhs_objattr:
 
+            obj = None
             obj_name = objdef['name']
             obj_attrs = objdef['attrs']
 
diff --git a/evennia/objects/objects.py b/evennia/objects/objects.py
index 107a428863..86d3ae8468 100644
--- a/evennia/objects/objects.py
+++ b/evennia/objects/objects.py
@@ -1344,7 +1344,10 @@ class DefaultObject(with_metaclass(TypeclassBase, ObjectDB)):
 
         """
         if not target.access(self, "view"):
-            return "Could not find '%s'." % target
+            try:
+                return "Could not view '%s'." % target.get_display_name(self)
+            except AttributeError:
+                return "Could not view '%s'." % target.key
         # the target's at_desc() method.
         target.at_desc(looker=self)
         return target.return_appearance(self)