diff --git a/openide.filesystems/src/org/openide/filesystems/annotations/LayerGenerationException.java b/openide.filesystems/src/org/openide/filesystems/annotations/LayerGenerationException.java
--- a/openide.filesystems/src/org/openide/filesystems/annotations/LayerGenerationException.java
+++ b/openide.filesystems/src/org/openide/filesystems/annotations/LayerGenerationException.java
@@ -39,13 +39,19 @@
 
 package org.openide.filesystems.annotations;
 
+import java.lang.annotation.Annotation;
+import java.util.Map;
 import javax.annotation.processing.Messager;
+import javax.annotation.processing.ProcessingEnvironment;
 import javax.lang.model.element.AnnotationMirror;
 import javax.lang.model.element.AnnotationValue;
 import javax.lang.model.element.Element;
+import javax.lang.model.element.ExecutableElement;
+import javax.lang.model.element.TypeElement;
 
 /**
  * Exception thrown when a layer entry cannot be generated due to erroneous sources.
+ * @see LayerGeneratingProcessor
  * @since org.openide.filesystems 7.15
  */
 public class LayerGenerationException extends Exception {
@@ -60,7 +66,7 @@
      * @see Messager#printMessage(javax.tools.Diagnostic.Kind, CharSequence)
      */
     public LayerGenerationException(String message) {
-        this(message, null, null, null);
+        this(message, (Element) null, (AnnotationMirror) null, (AnnotationValue) null);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -70,7 +76,7 @@
      * @see Messager#printMessage(javax.tools.Diagnostic.Kind, CharSequence, Element)
      */
     public LayerGenerationException(String message, Element erroneousElement) {
-        this(message, erroneousElement, null, null);
+        this(message, erroneousElement, (AnnotationMirror) null, (AnnotationValue) null);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -81,7 +87,7 @@
      * @see Messager#printMessage(javax.tools.Diagnostic.Kind, CharSequence, Element, AnnotationMirror)
      */
     public LayerGenerationException(String message, Element erroneousElement, AnnotationMirror erroneousAnnotation) {
-        this(message, erroneousElement, erroneousAnnotation, null);
+        this(message, erroneousElement, erroneousAnnotation, (AnnotationValue) null);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -99,4 +105,63 @@
         this.erroneousAnnotationValue = erroneousAnnotationValue;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * An exception with an associated annotation.
+     * Convenience constructor which locates an annotation on the erroneous element for you.
+     * @param message a detail message which could be reported to the user
+     * @param erroneousElement the associated element
+     * @param processingEnv the processing environment passed to the processor
+     * @param erroneousAnnotation the type of the annotation on the element
+     * @see Messager#printMessage(javax.tools.Diagnostic.Kind, CharSequence, Element, AnnotationMirror)
+     */
+    public LayerGenerationException(String message, Element erroneousElement, ProcessingEnvironment processingEnv,
+            Class<? extends Annotation> erroneousAnnotation) {
+        this(message, erroneousElement, processingEnv, erroneousAnnotation, (String) null);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * An exception with an associated annotation value.
+     * Convenience constructor which locates an annotation and its value on the erroneous element for you.
+     * @param message a detail message which could be reported to the user
+     * @param erroneousElement the associated element
+     * @param processingEnv the processing environment passed to the processor
+     * @param erroneousAnnotation the type of the annotation on the element
+     * @param erroneousAnnotationValue the name of a method in that annotation
+     * @see Messager#printMessage(javax.tools.Diagnostic.Kind, CharSequence, Element, AnnotationMirror, AnnotationValue)
+     */
+    public LayerGenerationException(String message, Element erroneousElement, ProcessingEnvironment processingEnv,
+            Class<? extends Annotation> erroneousAnnotation, String erroneousAnnotationValue) {
+        super(message);
+        this.erroneousElement = erroneousElement;
+        if (erroneousAnnotationValue != null) {
+            try {
+                erroneousAnnotation.getMethod(erroneousAnnotationValue);
+            } catch (NoSuchMethodException x) {
+                throw new IllegalArgumentException("No such method " + erroneousAnnotationValue + " in " + erroneousAnnotation);
+            } catch (SecurityException x) {/* ignore? */}
+        }
+        this.erroneousAnnotation = findAnnotationMirror(erroneousElement, processingEnv, erroneousAnnotation);
+        this.erroneousAnnotationValue = this.erroneousAnnotation != null && erroneousAnnotationValue != null ?
+            findAnnotationValue(this.erroneousAnnotation, erroneousAnnotationValue) : null;
+    }
+
+    private static AnnotationMirror findAnnotationMirror(Element element, ProcessingEnvironment processingEnv, Class<? extends Annotation> annotation) {
+        for (AnnotationMirror ann : element.getAnnotationMirrors()) {
+            if (processingEnv.getElementUtils().getBinaryName((TypeElement) ann.getAnnotationType().asElement()).
+                    contentEquals(annotation.getName())) {
+                return ann;
+            }
+        }
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    private AnnotationValue findAnnotationValue(AnnotationMirror annotation, String name) {
+        for (Map.Entry<? extends ExecutableElement,? extends AnnotationValue> entry : annotation.getElementValues().entrySet()) {
+            if (entry.getKey().getSimpleName().contentEquals(name)) {
+                return entry.getValue();
+            }
+        }
+        return null;
+    }
+
 }