diff --git a/activation/activation.go b/activation/activation.go
index 1903d14a97..567332e36e 100644
--- a/activation/activation.go
+++ b/activation/activation.go
@@ -443,6 +443,7 @@ func (b *Builder) run(ctx context.Context, sig *signing.EdSigner) {
 
 		b.logger.Warn("failed to publish atx", zap.Error(err))
 
+		poetErr := &PoetSvcUnstableError{}
 		switch {
 		case errors.Is(err, ErrATXChallengeExpired):
 			b.logger.Debug("retrying with new challenge after waiting for a layer")
@@ -459,8 +460,11 @@ func (b *Builder) run(ctx context.Context, sig *signing.EdSigner) {
 				return
 			case <-b.layerClock.AwaitLayer(currentLayer.Add(1)):
 			}
-		case errors.Is(err, ErrPoetServiceUnstable):
-			b.logger.Warn("retrying after poet retry interval", zap.Duration("interval", b.poetRetryInterval))
+		case errors.As(err, &poetErr):
+			b.logger.Warn("retrying after poet retry interval",
+				zap.Duration("interval", b.poetRetryInterval),
+				zap.Error(poetErr.source),
+			)
 			select {
 			case <-ctx.Done():
 				return
diff --git a/activation/activation_errors.go b/activation/activation_errors.go
index 601541e83c..63027b0c81 100644
--- a/activation/activation_errors.go
+++ b/activation/activation_errors.go
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@ import (
 var (
 	// ErrATXChallengeExpired is returned when atx missed its publication window and needs to be regenerated.
 	ErrATXChallengeExpired = errors.New("builder: atx expired")
-	// ErrPoetServiceUnstable is returned when poet quality of service is low.
-	ErrPoetServiceUnstable = &PoetSvcUnstableError{}
 	// ErrPoetProofNotReceived is returned when no poet proof was received.
 	ErrPoetProofNotReceived = errors.New("builder: didn't receive any poet proof")
 )
@@ -28,8 +26,3 @@ func (e *PoetSvcUnstableError) Error() string {
 }
 
 func (e *PoetSvcUnstableError) Unwrap() error { return e.source }
-
-func (e *PoetSvcUnstableError) Is(target error) bool {
-	_, ok := target.(*PoetSvcUnstableError)
-	return ok
-}
diff --git a/activation/activation_test.go b/activation/activation_test.go
index a3c696cb24..ba9acfa0b7 100644
--- a/activation/activation_test.go
+++ b/activation/activation_test.go
@@ -1076,7 +1076,7 @@ func TestBuilder_RetryPublishActivationTx(t *testing.T) {
 				tries++
 				t.Logf("try %d: %s", tries, now)
 				if tries < expectedTries {
-					return nil, ErrPoetServiceUnstable
+					return nil, &PoetSvcUnstableError{}
 				}
 				close(builderConfirmation)
 				return newNIPostWithPoet(t, []byte("66666")), nil
diff --git a/activation/nipost_test.go b/activation/nipost_test.go
index a351345d9f..deb0fe588a 100644
--- a/activation/nipost_test.go
+++ b/activation/nipost_test.go
@@ -713,9 +713,14 @@ func TestNIPSTBuilder_PoetUnstable(t *testing.T) {
 		)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		nipst, err := nb.BuildNIPost(context.Background(), sig, challenge,
-			&types.NIPostChallenge{PublishEpoch: postGenesisEpoch + 2})
-		require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrPoetServiceUnstable)
+		nipst, err := nb.BuildNIPost(
+			context.Background(),
+			sig,
+			challenge,
+			&types.NIPostChallenge{PublishEpoch: postGenesisEpoch + 2},
+		)
+		poetErr := &PoetSvcUnstableError{}
+		require.ErrorAs(t, err, &poetErr)
 		require.Nil(t, nipst)
 	})
 	t.Run("Submit hangs", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -750,9 +755,14 @@ func TestNIPSTBuilder_PoetUnstable(t *testing.T) {
 		)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		nipst, err := nb.BuildNIPost(context.Background(), sig, challenge,
-			&types.NIPostChallenge{PublishEpoch: postGenesisEpoch + 2})
-		require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrPoetServiceUnstable)
+		nipst, err := nb.BuildNIPost(
+			context.Background(),
+			sig,
+			challenge,
+			&types.NIPostChallenge{PublishEpoch: postGenesisEpoch + 2},
+		)
+		poetErr := &PoetSvcUnstableError{}
+		require.ErrorAs(t, err, &poetErr)
 		require.Nil(t, nipst)
 	})
 	t.Run("GetProof fails", func(t *testing.T) {