+function stanza_mt.get_error(stanza)
+ local type, condition, text;
+
+ local error_tag = stanza:get_child("error");
+ if not error_tag then
+ return nil, nil, nil;
+ end
+ type = error_tag.attr.type;
+
+ for child in error_tag:childtags() do
+ if child.attr.xmlns == xmlns_stanzas then
+ if not text and child.name == "text" then
+ text = child:get_text();
+ elseif not condition then
+ condition = child.name;
+ end
+ if condition and text then
+ break;
+ end
+ end
+ end
+ return type, condition or "undefined-condition", text;
+end
+