diff --git a/meshtastic/__main__.py b/meshtastic/__main__.py
index b04084a..8b8bd9f 100644
--- a/meshtastic/__main__.py
+++ b/meshtastic/__main__.py
@@ -1374,8 +1374,7 @@ def common():
                         timeout=args.timeout,
                     )
                 except BLEInterface.BLEError as e:
-                    msg = str(e)
-                    if "No Meshtastic BLE peripheral" in msg:
+                    if e.kind == BLEInterface.BLEError.DEVICE_NOT_FOUND:
                         meshtastic.util.our_exit(
                             "BLE device not found.\n\n"
                             "Possible causes:\n"
@@ -1387,7 +1386,7 @@ def common():
                             "  - Run 'meshtastic --ble-scan' to see available devices",
                             1,
                         )
-                    elif "More than one" in msg:
+                    elif e.kind == BLEInterface.BLEError.MULTIPLE_DEVICES:
                         meshtastic.util.our_exit(
                             "Multiple Meshtastic BLE devices found.\n\n"
                             "Please specify which device to connect to:\n"
@@ -1395,7 +1394,7 @@ def common():
                             "  - Use 'meshtastic --ble <name_or_address>' to connect",
                             1,
                         )
-                    elif "Error writing BLE" in msg:
+                    elif e.kind == BLEInterface.BLEError.WRITE_ERROR:
                         meshtastic.util.our_exit(
                             "Failed to write to BLE device.\n\n"
                             "Possible causes:\n"
@@ -1407,7 +1406,7 @@ def common():
                             "  - Reset the Meshtastic device",
                             1,
                         )
-                    elif "Error reading BLE" in msg:
+                    elif e.kind == BLEInterface.BLEError.READ_ERROR:
                         meshtastic.util.our_exit(
                             "Failed to read from BLE device.\n\n"
                             "The device may have disconnected unexpectedly.\n\n"
diff --git a/meshtastic/ble_interface.py b/meshtastic/ble_interface.py
index 0237672..64a6361 100644
--- a/meshtastic/ble_interface.py
+++ b/meshtastic/ble_interface.py
@@ -33,6 +33,16 @@ class BLEInterface(MeshInterface):
     class BLEError(Exception):
         """An exception class for BLE errors."""
 
+        DEVICE_NOT_FOUND = "device_not_found"
+        MULTIPLE_DEVICES = "multiple_devices"
+        READ_ERROR = "read_error"
+        WRITE_ERROR = "write_error"
+        UNKNOWN = "unknown"
+
+        def __init__(self, message: str, kind: str = UNKNOWN):
+            super().__init__(message)
+            self.kind = kind
+
     def __init__( # pylint: disable=R0917
         self,
         address: Optional[str],
@@ -157,11 +167,13 @@ class BLEInterface(MeshInterface):
 
         if len(addressed_devices) == 0:
             raise BLEInterface.BLEError(
-                f"No Meshtastic BLE peripheral with identifier or address '{address}' found. Try --ble-scan to find it."
+                f"No Meshtastic BLE peripheral with identifier or address '{address}' found. Try --ble-scan to find it.",
+                BLEInterface.BLEError.DEVICE_NOT_FOUND,
             )
         if len(addressed_devices) > 1:
             raise BLEInterface.BLEError(
-                f"More than one Meshtastic BLE peripheral with identifier or address '{address}' found."
+                f"More than one Meshtastic BLE peripheral with identifier or address '{address}' found.",
+                BLEInterface.BLEError.MULTIPLE_DEVICES,
             )
         return addressed_devices[0]
 
@@ -204,7 +216,10 @@ class BLEInterface(MeshInterface):
                             logger.debug(f"Device disconnected, shutting down {e}")
                             self._want_receive = False
                         else:
-                            raise BLEInterface.BLEError("Error reading BLE") from e
+                            raise BLEInterface.BLEError(
+                                "Error reading BLE",
+                                BLEInterface.BLEError.READ_ERROR,
+                            ) from e
                     if not b:
                         if retries < 5:
                             time.sleep(0.1)
@@ -227,7 +242,8 @@ class BLEInterface(MeshInterface):
                 # search Bleak src for org.bluez.Error.InProgress
             except Exception as e:
                 raise BLEInterface.BLEError(
-                    "Error writing BLE (are you in the 'bluetooth' user group? did you enter the pairing PIN on your computer?)"
+                    "Error writing BLE (are you in the 'bluetooth' user group? did you enter the pairing PIN on your computer?)",
+                    BLEInterface.BLEError.WRITE_ERROR,
                 ) from e
             # Allow to propagate and then make sure we read
             time.sleep(0.01)