diff --git a/android/src/main/java/proguard/dexfile/reader/DexFileReader.java b/android/src/main/java/proguard/dexfile/reader/DexFileReader.java
index 5a13b5ba1..919aae2fe 100755
--- a/android/src/main/java/proguard/dexfile/reader/DexFileReader.java
+++ b/android/src/main/java/proguard/dexfile/reader/DexFileReader.java
@@ -326,9 +326,9 @@ private static void skip(ByteBuffer in, int bytes) {
   }
 
   public static void niceExceptionMessage(Throwable t, int deep) {
-    StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
+    StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(deep + 3);
     for (int i = 0; i < deep + 1; i++) {
-      sb.append(".");
+      sb.append('.');
     }
     sb.append(' ');
     if (t instanceof DexException) {