diff --git a/api/maven-api-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/api/services/MavenBuilderException.java b/api/maven-api-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/api/services/MavenBuilderException.java
index 8c157463a17..191d5758c3f 100644
--- a/api/maven-api-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/api/services/MavenBuilderException.java
+++ b/api/maven-api-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/api/services/MavenBuilderException.java
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 import org.apache.maven.api.annotations.Experimental;
 
 /**
- * Base class for all maven exceptions.
+ * Base class for all maven exceptions carrying {@link BuilderProblem}s.
  *
  * @since 4.0.0
  */
@@ -44,12 +44,17 @@ public MavenBuilderException(String message, List<BuilderProblem> problems) {
         this.problems = problems;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Formats message out of problems: problems are sorted (in natural order of {@link BuilderProblem.Severity})
+     * and then a list is built. These exceptions are usually thrown in "fatal" cases (and usually prevent Maven
+     * from starting), and these exceptions may end up very early on output.
+     */
     protected static String buildMessage(String message, List<BuilderProblem> problems) {
         StringBuilder msg = new StringBuilder(message);
         ArrayList<BuilderProblem> sorted = new ArrayList<>(problems);
         sorted.sort(Comparator.comparing(BuilderProblem::getSeverity));
         for (BuilderProblem problem : sorted) {
-            msg.append("\n * ").append(problem.getSeverity().name()).append(" ").append(problem.getMessage());
+            msg.append("\n * ").append(problem.getSeverity().name()).append(": ").append(problem.getMessage());
         }
         return msg.toString();
     }
diff --git a/its/core-it-suite/src/test/java/org/apache/maven/it/MavenITmng8379SettingsDecryptTest.java b/its/core-it-suite/src/test/java/org/apache/maven/it/MavenITmng8379SettingsDecryptTest.java
index a69490e219a..ebaa574b955 100644
--- a/its/core-it-suite/src/test/java/org/apache/maven/it/MavenITmng8379SettingsDecryptTest.java
+++ b/its/core-it-suite/src/test/java/org/apache/maven/it/MavenITmng8379SettingsDecryptTest.java
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ void testLegacy() throws Exception {
         verifier.verifyErrorFreeLog();
 
         // there is a warning and all fields decrypted
-        verifier.verifyTextInLog("[INFO] Some problems were encountered while building the effective settings (use -X to see details)");
+        verifier.verifyTextInLog(
+                "[INFO] Some problems were encountered while building the effective settings (use -X to see details)");
         verifier.verifyTextInLog("<password>testtest</password>");
         verifier.verifyTextInLog("<value>testtest</value>");
     }
@@ -70,7 +71,8 @@ void testModern() throws Exception {
 
         // there is no warning and all fields decrypted
         verifier.verifyTextNotInLog("[WARNING]");
-        verifier.verifyTextNotInLog("[INFO] Some problems were encountered while building the effective settings (use -X to see details)");
+        verifier.verifyTextNotInLog(
+                "[INFO] Some problems were encountered while building the effective settings (use -X to see details)");
         verifier.verifyTextInLog("<password>testtest</password>");
         verifier.verifyTextInLog("<value>secretHeader</value>");
     }