diff --git a/help.txt b/help.txt
--- a/help.txt
+++ b/help.txt
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@
            --diff-command=CMD      use an external diff command
                                    example: --diff-command="git diff"
            --[no-]pretty           try to pretty-print diff values
+           --show-exceptions       use `show` when formatting exceptions
+           --display-exceptions    use `displayException` when formatting
+                                   exceptions
            --[no-]times            report times for individual spec items
            --print-cpu-time        include used CPU time in summary
   -p[N]    --print-slow-items[=N]  print the N slowest spec items (default: 10)
diff --git a/hspec-core.cabal b/hspec-core.cabal
--- a/hspec-core.cabal
+++ b/hspec-core.cabal
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 cabal-version: 1.12
 
--- This file has been generated from package.yaml by hpack version 0.35.2.
+-- This file has been generated from package.yaml by hpack version 0.35.5.
 --
 -- see: https://github.com/sol/hpack
 
 name:             hspec-core
-version:          2.11.4
+version:          2.11.5
 license:          MIT
 license-file:     LICENSE
 copyright:        (c) 2011-2023 Simon Hengel,
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 category:         Testing
 stability:        experimental
 bug-reports:      https://github.com/hspec/hspec/issues
+author:           Simon Hengel <sol@typeful.net>
 homepage:         https://hspec.github.io/
 synopsis:         A Testing Framework for Haskell
 description:      This package exposes internal types and functions that can be used to extend Hspec's functionality.
@@ -129,7 +130,7 @@
     , filepath
     , haskell-lexer
     , hspec-expectations ==0.8.4.*
-    , hspec-meta ==2.11.4
+    , hspec-meta ==2.11.5
     , process
     , quickcheck-io >=0.2.0
     , random
diff --git a/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Config/Definition.hs b/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Config/Definition.hs
--- a/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Config/Definition.hs
+++ b/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Config/Definition.hs
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@
 
 , configPrettyPrint :: Bool
 , configPrettyPrintFunction :: Bool -> String -> String -> (String, String)
+, configFormatException :: SomeException -> String -- ^ @since 2.11.5
 , configTimes :: Bool
 , configExpertMode :: Bool -- ^ @since 2.11.2
 , configAvailableFormatters :: [(String, FormatConfig -> IO Format)] -- ^ @since 2.9.0
@@ -122,6 +123,7 @@
 , configExternalDiff = Nothing
 , configPrettyPrint = True
 , configPrettyPrintFunction = pretty2
+, configFormatException = formatExceptionWith show
 , configTimes = False
 , configExpertMode = False
 , configAvailableFormatters = formatters
@@ -178,6 +180,9 @@
       ]
   , option "diff-command" (argument "CMD" return setDiffCommand) "use an external diff command\nexample: --diff-command=\"git diff\""
   , mkFlag "pretty" setPretty "try to pretty-print diff values"
+  , mkOptionNoArg "show-exceptions" Nothing setShowException "use `show` when formatting exceptions"
+  , mkOptionNoArg "display-exceptions" Nothing setDisplayException "use `displayException` when formatting exceptions"
+
   , mkFlag "times" setTimes "report times for individual spec items"
   , mkOptionNoArg "print-cpu-time" Nothing setPrintCpuTime "include used CPU time in summary"
   , printSlowItemsOption
@@ -227,6 +232,12 @@
 
     setPretty :: Bool -> Config -> Config
     setPretty v config = config {configPrettyPrint = v}
+
+    setShowException :: Config -> Config
+    setShowException config = config {configFormatException = formatExceptionWith show}
+
+    setDisplayException :: Config -> Config
+    setDisplayException config = config {configFormatException = formatExceptionWith displayException}
 
     setTimes :: Bool -> Config -> Config
     setTimes v config = config {configTimes = v}
diff --git a/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Format.hs b/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Format.hs
--- a/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Format.hs
+++ b/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Format.hs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 (
   Format
 , FormatConfig(..)
+, defaultFormatConfig
 , Event(..)
 , Progress
 , Path
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@
 import           Control.Monad.IO.Class
 
 import           Test.Hspec.Core.Example (Progress, Location(..), FailureReason(..))
-import           Test.Hspec.Core.Util (Path)
+import           Test.Hspec.Core.Util (Path, formatExceptionWith)
 import           Test.Hspec.Core.Clock (Seconds(..))
 
 type Format = Event -> IO ()
@@ -68,6 +69,7 @@
 , formatConfigExternalDiff :: Maybe (String -> String -> IO ())
 , formatConfigPrettyPrint :: Bool
 , formatConfigPrettyPrintFunction :: Maybe (String -> String -> (String, String))
+, formatConfigFormatException :: SomeException -> String -- ^ @since 2.11.5
 , formatConfigPrintTimes :: Bool
 , formatConfigHtmlOutput :: Bool
 , formatConfigPrintCpuTime :: Bool
@@ -77,6 +79,26 @@
 }
 
 {-# DEPRECATED formatConfigPrettyPrint "Use `formatConfigPrettyPrintFunction` instead" #-}
+
+-- ^ @since 2.11.5
+defaultFormatConfig :: FormatConfig
+defaultFormatConfig = FormatConfig {
+  formatConfigUseColor = False
+, formatConfigReportProgress = False
+, formatConfigOutputUnicode = False
+, formatConfigUseDiff = False
+, formatConfigDiffContext = Nothing
+, formatConfigExternalDiff = Nothing
+, formatConfigPrettyPrint = False
+, formatConfigPrettyPrintFunction = Nothing
+, formatConfigFormatException = formatExceptionWith show
+, formatConfigPrintTimes = False
+, formatConfigHtmlOutput = False
+, formatConfigPrintCpuTime = False
+, formatConfigUsedSeed = 0
+, formatConfigExpectedTotalCount = 0
+, formatConfigExpertMode = False
+}
 
 data Signal = Ok | NotOk SomeException
 
diff --git a/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Formatters/Internal.hs b/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Formatters/Internal.hs
--- a/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Formatters/Internal.hs
+++ b/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Formatters/Internal.hs
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@
 , FormatM
 , formatterToFormat
 
+, getConfig
+, getConfigValue
+, FormatConfig(..)
+
 , getSuccessCount
 , getPendingCount
 , getFailCount
@@ -118,13 +122,13 @@
 
 -- | Return `True` if the user requested colorized diffs, `False` otherwise.
 useDiff :: FormatM Bool
-useDiff = getConfig formatConfigUseDiff
+useDiff = getConfigValue formatConfigUseDiff
 
 -- | Do nothing on `--expert`, otherwise run the given action.
 --
 -- @since 2.11.2
 unlessExpert :: FormatM () -> FormatM ()
-unlessExpert action = getConfig formatConfigExpertMode >>= \ case
+unlessExpert action = getConfigValue formatConfigExpertMode >>= \ case
   False -> action
   True -> return ()
 
@@ -133,7 +137,7 @@
 --
 -- @since 2.10.6
 diffContext :: FormatM (Maybe Int)
-diffContext = getConfig formatConfigDiffContext
+diffContext = getConfigValue formatConfigDiffContext
 
 -- | An action for printing diffs.
 --
@@ -145,11 +149,11 @@
 --
 -- @since 2.10.6
 externalDiffAction :: FormatM (Maybe (String -> String -> IO ()))
-externalDiffAction = getConfig formatConfigExternalDiff
+externalDiffAction = getConfigValue formatConfigExternalDiff
 
 -- | Return `True` if the user requested pretty diffs, `False` otherwise.
 prettyPrint :: FormatM Bool
-prettyPrint = maybe False (const True) <$> getConfig formatConfigPrettyPrintFunction
+prettyPrint = maybe False (const True) <$> getConfigValue formatConfigPrettyPrintFunction
 {-# DEPRECATED prettyPrint "use `prettyPrintFunction` instead" #-}
 
 -- | Return a function for pretty-printing if the user requested pretty diffs,
@@ -157,13 +161,13 @@
 --
 -- @since 2.10.0
 prettyPrintFunction :: FormatM (Maybe (String -> String -> (String, String)))
-prettyPrintFunction = getConfig formatConfigPrettyPrintFunction
+prettyPrintFunction = getConfigValue formatConfigPrettyPrintFunction
 
 -- | Return `True` if the user requested unicode output, `False` otherwise.
 --
 -- @since 2.9.0
 outputUnicode :: FormatM Bool
-outputUnicode = getConfig formatConfigOutputUnicode
+outputUnicode = getConfigValue formatConfigOutputUnicode
 
 -- | The same as `write`, but adds a newline character.
 writeLine :: String -> FormatM ()
@@ -198,12 +202,17 @@
 , stateColor           :: Maybe SGR
 }
 
-getConfig :: (FormatConfig -> a) -> FormatM a
-getConfig f = gets (f . stateConfig)
+-- | @since 2.11.5
+getConfig :: FormatM FormatConfig
+getConfig = gets stateConfig
 
+-- | @since 2.11.5
+getConfigValue :: (FormatConfig -> a) -> FormatM a
+getConfigValue f = gets (f . stateConfig)
+
 -- | The random seed that is used for QuickCheck.
 usedSeed :: FormatM Integer
-usedSeed = getConfig formatConfigUsedSeed
+usedSeed = getConfigValue formatConfigUsedSeed
 
 -- NOTE: We use an IORef here, so that the state persists when UserInterrupt is
 -- thrown.
@@ -257,11 +266,11 @@
 --
 -- @since 2.9.0
 getExpectedTotalCount :: FormatM Int
-getExpectedTotalCount = getConfig formatConfigExpectedTotalCount
+getExpectedTotalCount = getConfigValue formatConfigExpectedTotalCount
 
 writeTransient :: String -> FormatM ()
 writeTransient new = do
-  reportProgress <- getConfig formatConfigReportProgress
+  reportProgress <- getConfigValue formatConfigReportProgress
   when reportProgress $ do
     write new
     liftIO $ IO.hFlush stdout
@@ -310,7 +319,7 @@
 -- | Set a color, run an action, and finally reset colors.
 withColor :: SGR -> String -> FormatM a -> FormatM a
 withColor color cls action = do
-  produceHTML <- getConfig formatConfigHtmlOutput
+  produceHTML <- getConfigValue formatConfigHtmlOutput
   (if produceHTML then htmlSpan cls else withColor_ color) action
 
 htmlSpan :: String -> FormatM a -> FormatM a
@@ -323,14 +332,14 @@
 
 setColor :: Maybe SGR -> FormatM ()
 setColor color = do
-  useColor <- getConfig formatConfigUseColor
+  useColor <- getConfigValue formatConfigUseColor
   when useColor $ do
     modify (\ state -> state { stateColor = color })
 
 -- | Output given chunk in red.
 extraChunk :: String -> FormatM ()
 extraChunk s = do
-  diff <- getConfig formatConfigUseDiff
+  diff <- getConfigValue formatConfigUseDiff
   case diff of
     True -> extra s
     False -> write s
@@ -341,7 +350,7 @@
 -- | Output given chunk in green.
 missingChunk :: String -> FormatM ()
 missingChunk s = do
-  diff <- getConfig formatConfigUseDiff
+  diff <- getConfigValue formatConfigUseDiff
   case diff of
     True -> missing s
     False -> write s
diff --git a/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Formatters/V2.hs b/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Formatters/V2.hs
--- a/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Formatters/V2.hs
+++ b/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Formatters/V2.hs
@@ -33,6 +33,11 @@
 , FormatM
 , formatterToFormat
 
+-- ** Accessing config values
+, getConfig
+, getConfigValue
+, FormatConfig(..)
+
 -- ** Accessing the runner state
 , getSuccessCount
 , getPendingCount
@@ -76,7 +81,7 @@
 
 -- ** Helpers
 , formatLocation
-, formatException
+, Util.formatException
 
 #ifdef TEST
 , Chunk(..)
@@ -90,7 +95,8 @@
 import           System.IO (hFlush, stdout)
 
 import           Data.Char
-import           Test.Hspec.Core.Util
+import           Test.Hspec.Core.Util hiding (formatException)
+import qualified Test.Hspec.Core.Util as Util
 import           Test.Hspec.Core.Clock
 import           Test.Hspec.Core.Example (Location(..), Progress)
 import           Text.Printf
@@ -110,6 +116,10 @@
   , FormatM
   , formatterToFormat
 
+  , getConfig
+  , getConfigValue
+  , FormatConfig(..)
+
   , getSuccessCount
   , getPendingCount
   , getFailCount
@@ -341,6 +351,7 @@
 
         Error info e -> do
           mapM_ indent info
+          formatException <- getConfigValue formatConfigFormatException
           withFailColor . indent $ "uncaught exception: " ++ formatException e
 
 
diff --git a/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Runner.hs b/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Runner.hs
--- a/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Runner.hs
+++ b/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Runner.hs
@@ -383,6 +383,7 @@
       , formatConfigExternalDiff = if configDiff config then ($ configDiffContext config) <$> configExternalDiff config else Nothing
       , formatConfigPrettyPrint = configPrettyPrint config
       , formatConfigPrettyPrintFunction = if configPrettyPrint config then Just (configPrettyPrintFunction config outputUnicode) else Nothing
+      , formatConfigFormatException = configFormatException config
       , formatConfigPrintTimes = configTimes config
       , formatConfigHtmlOutput = configHtmlOutput config
       , formatConfigPrintCpuTime = configPrintCpuTime config
diff --git a/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Util.hs b/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Util.hs
--- a/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Util.hs
+++ b/src/Test/Hspec/Core/Util.hs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 -- * Working with exceptions
 , safeTry
 , formatException
+, formatExceptionWith
 ) where
 
 import           Prelude ()
@@ -137,9 +138,13 @@
 --
 -- @since 2.0.0
 formatException :: SomeException -> String
-formatException err@(SomeException e) = case fromException err of
-  Just ioe -> showType ioe ++ " of type " ++ showIOErrorType ioe ++ "\n" ++ show ioe
-  Nothing  -> showType e ++ "\n" ++ show e
+formatException = formatExceptionWith show
+
+-- | @since 2.11.5
+formatExceptionWith :: (SomeException -> String) -> SomeException -> String
+formatExceptionWith showException err@(SomeException e) = case fromException err of
+  Just ioe -> showType ioe ++ " of type " ++ showIOErrorType ioe ++ "\n" ++ showException (toException ioe)
+  Nothing  -> showType e ++ "\n" ++ showException (SomeException e)
   where
     showIOErrorType :: IOException -> String
     showIOErrorType ioe = case ioe_type ioe of
diff --git a/test/Test/Hspec/Core/Formatters/InternalSpec.hs b/test/Test/Hspec/Core/Formatters/InternalSpec.hs
--- a/test/Test/Hspec/Core/Formatters/InternalSpec.hs
+++ b/test/Test/Hspec/Core/Formatters/InternalSpec.hs
@@ -10,21 +10,10 @@
 import           Test.Hspec.Core.Formatters.Internal
 
 formatConfig :: FormatConfig
-formatConfig = FormatConfig {
+formatConfig = defaultFormatConfig {
   formatConfigUseColor = True
-, formatConfigReportProgress = False
-, formatConfigOutputUnicode = False
 , formatConfigUseDiff = True
 , formatConfigDiffContext = Just 3
-, formatConfigExternalDiff = Nothing
-, formatConfigPrettyPrint = False
-, formatConfigPrettyPrintFunction = Nothing
-, formatConfigPrintTimes = False
-, formatConfigHtmlOutput = False
-, formatConfigPrintCpuTime = False
-, formatConfigUsedSeed = 0
-, formatConfigExpectedTotalCount = 0
-, formatConfigExpertMode = False
 }
 
 spec :: Spec
diff --git a/test/Test/Hspec/Core/Formatters/V2Spec.hs b/test/Test/Hspec/Core/Formatters/V2Spec.hs
--- a/test/Test/Hspec/Core/Formatters/V2Spec.hs
+++ b/test/Test/Hspec/Core/Formatters/V2Spec.hs
@@ -20,23 +20,14 @@
     H.it "exceptions" (undefined :: Spec.Result)
     H.it "fail 3"     (H.Result "" $ Spec.Failure Nothing H.NoReason)
 
-
 formatConfig :: FormatConfig
-formatConfig = FormatConfig {
-  formatConfigUseColor = False
-, formatConfigReportProgress = False
-, formatConfigOutputUnicode = unicode
+formatConfig = defaultFormatConfig {
+  formatConfigOutputUnicode = unicode
 , formatConfigUseDiff = True
 , formatConfigDiffContext = Just 3
 , formatConfigExternalDiff = Nothing
 , formatConfigPrettyPrint = True
 , formatConfigPrettyPrintFunction = Just (H.configPrettyPrintFunction H.defaultConfig unicode)
-, formatConfigPrintTimes = False
-, formatConfigHtmlOutput = False
-, formatConfigPrintCpuTime = False
-, formatConfigUsedSeed = 0
-, formatConfigExpectedTotalCount = 0
-, formatConfigExpertMode = False
 } where
     unicode = True
 
diff --git a/test/Test/Hspec/Core/RunnerSpec.hs b/test/Test/Hspec/Core/RunnerSpec.hs
--- a/test/Test/Hspec/Core/RunnerSpec.hs
+++ b/test/Test/Hspec/Core/RunnerSpec.hs
@@ -35,6 +35,18 @@
 person :: Int -> Person
 person = Person "Joe"
 
+data MyException = MyException
+  deriving (Eq, Show)
+
+instance Exception MyException where
+  displayException MyException = "my exception"
+
+resultWithColorizedReason :: H.Result
+resultWithColorizedReason = H.Result {
+  H.resultInfo = "info"
+, H.resultStatus = H.Failure Nothing . H.ColorizedReason $ "some " <> green "colorized" <> " error message"
+}
+
 spec :: Spec
 spec = do
   describe "hspec" $ do
@@ -531,12 +543,45 @@
           , "        but got: Person {personName = \"Joe\", personAge = 23}"
           ]
 
-    let
-      resultWithColorizedReason :: H.Result
-      resultWithColorizedReason = H.Result {
-          H.resultInfo = "info"
-        , H.resultStatus = H.Failure Nothing . H.ColorizedReason $ "some " <> green "colorized" <> " error message"
-        }
+    context "when formatting exceptions" $ do
+      let spec_ = H.it "foo" $ void (throwIO MyException)
+      context "with --show-exceptions" $ do
+        it "uses `show`" $ do
+          hspecCapture ["--seed=0", "--format=failed-examples", "--display-exceptions", "--show-exceptions"] spec_
+          `shouldReturn` unlines [
+              ""
+            , "Failures:"
+            , ""
+            , "  1) foo"
+            , "       uncaught exception: MyException"
+            , "       MyException"
+            , ""
+            , "  To rerun use: --match \"/foo/\""
+            , ""
+            , "Randomized with seed 0"
+            , ""
+            , "Finished in 0.0000 seconds"
+            , "1 example, 1 failure"
+            ]
+
+      context "with --display-exceptions" $ do
+        it "uses `displayException`" $ do
+          hspecCapture ["--seed=0", "--format=failed-examples", "--show-exceptions", "--display-exceptions"] spec_
+          `shouldReturn` unlines [
+              ""
+            , "Failures:"
+            , ""
+            , "  1) foo"
+            , "       uncaught exception: MyException"
+            , "       my exception"
+            , ""
+            , "  To rerun use: --match \"/foo/\""
+            , ""
+            , "Randomized with seed 0"
+            , ""
+            , "Finished in 0.0000 seconds"
+            , "1 example, 1 failure"
+            ]
 
     context "with --color" $ do
       it "outputs ColorizedReason" $ do
diff --git a/version.yaml b/version.yaml
--- a/version.yaml
+++ b/version.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-version: &version 2.11.4
+version: &version 2.11.5
 synopsis: A Testing Framework for Haskell
+author: Simon Hengel <sol@typeful.net>
 maintainer: Simon Hengel <sol@typeful.net>
 category: Testing
 stability: experimental