diff --git a/modules/openapi-generator/src/main/resources/go/client.mustache b/modules/openapi-generator/src/main/resources/go/client.mustache
index c0fea7cafc3d..8f8b4b69766f 100644
--- a/modules/openapi-generator/src/main/resources/go/client.mustache
+++ b/modules/openapi-generator/src/main/resources/go/client.mustache
@@ -753,20 +753,51 @@ func (e GenericOpenAPIError) Model() interface{} {
 
 // format error message using title and detail when model implements rfc7807
 func formatErrorMessage(status string, v interface{}) string {
-	str := ""
-	metaValue := reflect.ValueOf(v).Elem()
+	title := rfc7807Field(v, "Title")
+	detail := rfc7807Field(v, "Detail")
+
+	var str string
+	switch {
+	case title != "" && detail != "":
+		str = title + " (" + detail + ")"
+	case title != "":
+		str = title
+	default:
+		str = detail
+	}
+
+	return strings.TrimSpace(status + " " + str)
+}
 
-	if metaValue.Kind() == reflect.Struct {
-		field := metaValue.FieldByName("Title")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s", field.Interface())
+// rfc7807Field reads a string member of an rfc7807 model, following one level of pointer
+// indirection so that an optional field declared as *string yields its value rather than its
+// address. It returns the empty string when the member is absent, is a nil pointer, or holds the
+// empty string, so a member that was not set contributes nothing to the message.
+func rfc7807Field(v interface{}, name string) string {
+	value := reflect.ValueOf(v)
+	if value.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		value = value.Elem()
+	}
+	if value.Kind() != reflect.Struct {
+		return ""
+	}
 
-		field = metaValue.FieldByName("Detail")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s (%s)", str, field.Interface())
+	field := value.FieldByName(name)
+	if !field.IsValid() {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if field.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if field.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		field = field.Elem()
+	}
+	if field.Kind() != reflect.String {
+		return ""
 	}
 
-	return strings.TrimSpace(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", status, str))
+	return field.String()
 }
diff --git a/samples/client/echo_api/go-external-refs/client.go b/samples/client/echo_api/go-external-refs/client.go
index 83d93205607b..5575e9bccbc9 100644
--- a/samples/client/echo_api/go-external-refs/client.go
+++ b/samples/client/echo_api/go-external-refs/client.go
@@ -669,20 +669,51 @@ func (e GenericOpenAPIError) Model() interface{} {
 
 // format error message using title and detail when model implements rfc7807
 func formatErrorMessage(status string, v interface{}) string {
-	str := ""
-	metaValue := reflect.ValueOf(v).Elem()
+	title := rfc7807Field(v, "Title")
+	detail := rfc7807Field(v, "Detail")
+
+	var str string
+	switch {
+	case title != "" && detail != "":
+		str = title + " (" + detail + ")"
+	case title != "":
+		str = title
+	default:
+		str = detail
+	}
+
+	return strings.TrimSpace(status + " " + str)
+}
 
-	if metaValue.Kind() == reflect.Struct {
-		field := metaValue.FieldByName("Title")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s", field.Interface())
+// rfc7807Field reads a string member of an rfc7807 model, following one level of pointer
+// indirection so that an optional field declared as *string yields its value rather than its
+// address. It returns the empty string when the member is absent, is a nil pointer, or holds the
+// empty string, so a member that was not set contributes nothing to the message.
+func rfc7807Field(v interface{}, name string) string {
+	value := reflect.ValueOf(v)
+	if value.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		value = value.Elem()
+	}
+	if value.Kind() != reflect.Struct {
+		return ""
+	}
 
-		field = metaValue.FieldByName("Detail")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s (%s)", str, field.Interface())
+	field := value.FieldByName(name)
+	if !field.IsValid() {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if field.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if field.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		field = field.Elem()
+	}
+	if field.Kind() != reflect.String {
+		return ""
 	}
 
-	return strings.TrimSpace(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", status, str))
+	return field.String()
 }
diff --git a/samples/client/echo_api/go/client.go b/samples/client/echo_api/go/client.go
index 83d93205607b..5575e9bccbc9 100644
--- a/samples/client/echo_api/go/client.go
+++ b/samples/client/echo_api/go/client.go
@@ -669,20 +669,51 @@ func (e GenericOpenAPIError) Model() interface{} {
 
 // format error message using title and detail when model implements rfc7807
 func formatErrorMessage(status string, v interface{}) string {
-	str := ""
-	metaValue := reflect.ValueOf(v).Elem()
+	title := rfc7807Field(v, "Title")
+	detail := rfc7807Field(v, "Detail")
+
+	var str string
+	switch {
+	case title != "" && detail != "":
+		str = title + " (" + detail + ")"
+	case title != "":
+		str = title
+	default:
+		str = detail
+	}
+
+	return strings.TrimSpace(status + " " + str)
+}
 
-	if metaValue.Kind() == reflect.Struct {
-		field := metaValue.FieldByName("Title")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s", field.Interface())
+// rfc7807Field reads a string member of an rfc7807 model, following one level of pointer
+// indirection so that an optional field declared as *string yields its value rather than its
+// address. It returns the empty string when the member is absent, is a nil pointer, or holds the
+// empty string, so a member that was not set contributes nothing to the message.
+func rfc7807Field(v interface{}, name string) string {
+	value := reflect.ValueOf(v)
+	if value.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		value = value.Elem()
+	}
+	if value.Kind() != reflect.Struct {
+		return ""
+	}
 
-		field = metaValue.FieldByName("Detail")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s (%s)", str, field.Interface())
+	field := value.FieldByName(name)
+	if !field.IsValid() {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if field.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if field.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		field = field.Elem()
+	}
+	if field.Kind() != reflect.String {
+		return ""
 	}
 
-	return strings.TrimSpace(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", status, str))
+	return field.String()
 }
diff --git a/samples/client/others/go/allof_multiple_ref_and_discriminator/client.go b/samples/client/others/go/allof_multiple_ref_and_discriminator/client.go
index 7a19a74088d8..4ad15f47dd02 100644
--- a/samples/client/others/go/allof_multiple_ref_and_discriminator/client.go
+++ b/samples/client/others/go/allof_multiple_ref_and_discriminator/client.go
@@ -640,20 +640,51 @@ func (e GenericOpenAPIError) Model() interface{} {
 
 // format error message using title and detail when model implements rfc7807
 func formatErrorMessage(status string, v interface{}) string {
-	str := ""
-	metaValue := reflect.ValueOf(v).Elem()
+	title := rfc7807Field(v, "Title")
+	detail := rfc7807Field(v, "Detail")
+
+	var str string
+	switch {
+	case title != "" && detail != "":
+		str = title + " (" + detail + ")"
+	case title != "":
+		str = title
+	default:
+		str = detail
+	}
+
+	return strings.TrimSpace(status + " " + str)
+}
 
-	if metaValue.Kind() == reflect.Struct {
-		field := metaValue.FieldByName("Title")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s", field.Interface())
+// rfc7807Field reads a string member of an rfc7807 model, following one level of pointer
+// indirection so that an optional field declared as *string yields its value rather than its
+// address. It returns the empty string when the member is absent, is a nil pointer, or holds the
+// empty string, so a member that was not set contributes nothing to the message.
+func rfc7807Field(v interface{}, name string) string {
+	value := reflect.ValueOf(v)
+	if value.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		value = value.Elem()
+	}
+	if value.Kind() != reflect.Struct {
+		return ""
+	}
 
-		field = metaValue.FieldByName("Detail")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s (%s)", str, field.Interface())
+	field := value.FieldByName(name)
+	if !field.IsValid() {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if field.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if field.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		field = field.Elem()
+	}
+	if field.Kind() != reflect.String {
+		return ""
 	}
 
-	return strings.TrimSpace(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", status, str))
+	return field.String()
 }
diff --git a/samples/client/others/go/issue_20079_go_regex_wrongly_translated/client.go b/samples/client/others/go/issue_20079_go_regex_wrongly_translated/client.go
index b681437f098b..2611609bffca 100644
--- a/samples/client/others/go/issue_20079_go_regex_wrongly_translated/client.go
+++ b/samples/client/others/go/issue_20079_go_regex_wrongly_translated/client.go
@@ -643,20 +643,51 @@ func (e GenericOpenAPIError) Model() interface{} {
 
 // format error message using title and detail when model implements rfc7807
 func formatErrorMessage(status string, v interface{}) string {
-	str := ""
-	metaValue := reflect.ValueOf(v).Elem()
+	title := rfc7807Field(v, "Title")
+	detail := rfc7807Field(v, "Detail")
+
+	var str string
+	switch {
+	case title != "" && detail != "":
+		str = title + " (" + detail + ")"
+	case title != "":
+		str = title
+	default:
+		str = detail
+	}
+
+	return strings.TrimSpace(status + " " + str)
+}
 
-	if metaValue.Kind() == reflect.Struct {
-		field := metaValue.FieldByName("Title")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s", field.Interface())
+// rfc7807Field reads a string member of an rfc7807 model, following one level of pointer
+// indirection so that an optional field declared as *string yields its value rather than its
+// address. It returns the empty string when the member is absent, is a nil pointer, or holds the
+// empty string, so a member that was not set contributes nothing to the message.
+func rfc7807Field(v interface{}, name string) string {
+	value := reflect.ValueOf(v)
+	if value.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		value = value.Elem()
+	}
+	if value.Kind() != reflect.Struct {
+		return ""
+	}
 
-		field = metaValue.FieldByName("Detail")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s (%s)", str, field.Interface())
+	field := value.FieldByName(name)
+	if !field.IsValid() {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if field.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if field.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		field = field.Elem()
+	}
+	if field.Kind() != reflect.String {
+		return ""
 	}
 
-	return strings.TrimSpace(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", status, str))
+	return field.String()
 }
diff --git a/samples/client/others/go/oneof-anyof-required/client.go b/samples/client/others/go/oneof-anyof-required/client.go
index 7a19a74088d8..4ad15f47dd02 100644
--- a/samples/client/others/go/oneof-anyof-required/client.go
+++ b/samples/client/others/go/oneof-anyof-required/client.go
@@ -640,20 +640,51 @@ func (e GenericOpenAPIError) Model() interface{} {
 
 // format error message using title and detail when model implements rfc7807
 func formatErrorMessage(status string, v interface{}) string {
-	str := ""
-	metaValue := reflect.ValueOf(v).Elem()
+	title := rfc7807Field(v, "Title")
+	detail := rfc7807Field(v, "Detail")
+
+	var str string
+	switch {
+	case title != "" && detail != "":
+		str = title + " (" + detail + ")"
+	case title != "":
+		str = title
+	default:
+		str = detail
+	}
+
+	return strings.TrimSpace(status + " " + str)
+}
 
-	if metaValue.Kind() == reflect.Struct {
-		field := metaValue.FieldByName("Title")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s", field.Interface())
+// rfc7807Field reads a string member of an rfc7807 model, following one level of pointer
+// indirection so that an optional field declared as *string yields its value rather than its
+// address. It returns the empty string when the member is absent, is a nil pointer, or holds the
+// empty string, so a member that was not set contributes nothing to the message.
+func rfc7807Field(v interface{}, name string) string {
+	value := reflect.ValueOf(v)
+	if value.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		value = value.Elem()
+	}
+	if value.Kind() != reflect.Struct {
+		return ""
+	}
 
-		field = metaValue.FieldByName("Detail")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s (%s)", str, field.Interface())
+	field := value.FieldByName(name)
+	if !field.IsValid() {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if field.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if field.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		field = field.Elem()
+	}
+	if field.Kind() != reflect.String {
+		return ""
 	}
 
-	return strings.TrimSpace(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", status, str))
+	return field.String()
 }
diff --git a/samples/client/others/go/oneof-discriminator-lookup/client.go b/samples/client/others/go/oneof-discriminator-lookup/client.go
index 7a19a74088d8..4ad15f47dd02 100644
--- a/samples/client/others/go/oneof-discriminator-lookup/client.go
+++ b/samples/client/others/go/oneof-discriminator-lookup/client.go
@@ -640,20 +640,51 @@ func (e GenericOpenAPIError) Model() interface{} {
 
 // format error message using title and detail when model implements rfc7807
 func formatErrorMessage(status string, v interface{}) string {
-	str := ""
-	metaValue := reflect.ValueOf(v).Elem()
+	title := rfc7807Field(v, "Title")
+	detail := rfc7807Field(v, "Detail")
+
+	var str string
+	switch {
+	case title != "" && detail != "":
+		str = title + " (" + detail + ")"
+	case title != "":
+		str = title
+	default:
+		str = detail
+	}
+
+	return strings.TrimSpace(status + " " + str)
+}
 
-	if metaValue.Kind() == reflect.Struct {
-		field := metaValue.FieldByName("Title")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s", field.Interface())
+// rfc7807Field reads a string member of an rfc7807 model, following one level of pointer
+// indirection so that an optional field declared as *string yields its value rather than its
+// address. It returns the empty string when the member is absent, is a nil pointer, or holds the
+// empty string, so a member that was not set contributes nothing to the message.
+func rfc7807Field(v interface{}, name string) string {
+	value := reflect.ValueOf(v)
+	if value.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		value = value.Elem()
+	}
+	if value.Kind() != reflect.Struct {
+		return ""
+	}
 
-		field = metaValue.FieldByName("Detail")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s (%s)", str, field.Interface())
+	field := value.FieldByName(name)
+	if !field.IsValid() {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if field.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if field.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		field = field.Elem()
+	}
+	if field.Kind() != reflect.String {
+		return ""
 	}
 
-	return strings.TrimSpace(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", status, str))
+	return field.String()
 }
diff --git a/samples/client/petstore/go/go-petstore/client.go b/samples/client/petstore/go/go-petstore/client.go
index 85036942f54b..462f51fc05d6 100644
--- a/samples/client/petstore/go/go-petstore/client.go
+++ b/samples/client/petstore/go/go-petstore/client.go
@@ -675,20 +675,51 @@ func (e GenericOpenAPIError) Model() interface{} {
 
 // format error message using title and detail when model implements rfc7807
 func formatErrorMessage(status string, v interface{}) string {
-	str := ""
-	metaValue := reflect.ValueOf(v).Elem()
+	title := rfc7807Field(v, "Title")
+	detail := rfc7807Field(v, "Detail")
+
+	var str string
+	switch {
+	case title != "" && detail != "":
+		str = title + " (" + detail + ")"
+	case title != "":
+		str = title
+	default:
+		str = detail
+	}
+
+	return strings.TrimSpace(status + " " + str)
+}
 
-	if metaValue.Kind() == reflect.Struct {
-		field := metaValue.FieldByName("Title")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s", field.Interface())
+// rfc7807Field reads a string member of an rfc7807 model, following one level of pointer
+// indirection so that an optional field declared as *string yields its value rather than its
+// address. It returns the empty string when the member is absent, is a nil pointer, or holds the
+// empty string, so a member that was not set contributes nothing to the message.
+func rfc7807Field(v interface{}, name string) string {
+	value := reflect.ValueOf(v)
+	if value.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		value = value.Elem()
+	}
+	if value.Kind() != reflect.Struct {
+		return ""
+	}
 
-		field = metaValue.FieldByName("Detail")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s (%s)", str, field.Interface())
+	field := value.FieldByName(name)
+	if !field.IsValid() {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if field.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if field.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		field = field.Elem()
+	}
+	if field.Kind() != reflect.String {
+		return ""
 	}
 
-	return strings.TrimSpace(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", status, str))
+	return field.String()
 }
diff --git a/samples/openapi3/client/extensions/x-auth-id-alias/go-experimental/client.go b/samples/openapi3/client/extensions/x-auth-id-alias/go-experimental/client.go
index 58b26ebc1573..abfa1b852404 100644
--- a/samples/openapi3/client/extensions/x-auth-id-alias/go-experimental/client.go
+++ b/samples/openapi3/client/extensions/x-auth-id-alias/go-experimental/client.go
@@ -643,20 +643,51 @@ func (e GenericOpenAPIError) Model() interface{} {
 
 // format error message using title and detail when model implements rfc7807
 func formatErrorMessage(status string, v interface{}) string {
-	str := ""
-	metaValue := reflect.ValueOf(v).Elem()
+	title := rfc7807Field(v, "Title")
+	detail := rfc7807Field(v, "Detail")
+
+	var str string
+	switch {
+	case title != "" && detail != "":
+		str = title + " (" + detail + ")"
+	case title != "":
+		str = title
+	default:
+		str = detail
+	}
+
+	return strings.TrimSpace(status + " " + str)
+}
 
-	if metaValue.Kind() == reflect.Struct {
-		field := metaValue.FieldByName("Title")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s", field.Interface())
+// rfc7807Field reads a string member of an rfc7807 model, following one level of pointer
+// indirection so that an optional field declared as *string yields its value rather than its
+// address. It returns the empty string when the member is absent, is a nil pointer, or holds the
+// empty string, so a member that was not set contributes nothing to the message.
+func rfc7807Field(v interface{}, name string) string {
+	value := reflect.ValueOf(v)
+	if value.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		value = value.Elem()
+	}
+	if value.Kind() != reflect.Struct {
+		return ""
+	}
 
-		field = metaValue.FieldByName("Detail")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s (%s)", str, field.Interface())
+	field := value.FieldByName(name)
+	if !field.IsValid() {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if field.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if field.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		field = field.Elem()
+	}
+	if field.Kind() != reflect.String {
+		return ""
 	}
 
-	return strings.TrimSpace(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", status, str))
+	return field.String()
 }
diff --git a/samples/openapi3/client/petstore/go-petstore-generateMarshalJSON-false/client.go b/samples/openapi3/client/petstore/go-petstore-generateMarshalJSON-false/client.go
index 7f611c52fa4d..509373a8f51e 100644
--- a/samples/openapi3/client/petstore/go-petstore-generateMarshalJSON-false/client.go
+++ b/samples/openapi3/client/petstore/go-petstore-generateMarshalJSON-false/client.go
@@ -655,20 +655,51 @@ func (e GenericOpenAPIError) Model() interface{} {
 
 // format error message using title and detail when model implements rfc7807
 func formatErrorMessage(status string, v interface{}) string {
-	str := ""
-	metaValue := reflect.ValueOf(v).Elem()
+	title := rfc7807Field(v, "Title")
+	detail := rfc7807Field(v, "Detail")
+
+	var str string
+	switch {
+	case title != "" && detail != "":
+		str = title + " (" + detail + ")"
+	case title != "":
+		str = title
+	default:
+		str = detail
+	}
+
+	return strings.TrimSpace(status + " " + str)
+}
 
-	if metaValue.Kind() == reflect.Struct {
-		field := metaValue.FieldByName("Title")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s", field.Interface())
+// rfc7807Field reads a string member of an rfc7807 model, following one level of pointer
+// indirection so that an optional field declared as *string yields its value rather than its
+// address. It returns the empty string when the member is absent, is a nil pointer, or holds the
+// empty string, so a member that was not set contributes nothing to the message.
+func rfc7807Field(v interface{}, name string) string {
+	value := reflect.ValueOf(v)
+	if value.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		value = value.Elem()
+	}
+	if value.Kind() != reflect.Struct {
+		return ""
+	}
 
-		field = metaValue.FieldByName("Detail")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s (%s)", str, field.Interface())
+	field := value.FieldByName(name)
+	if !field.IsValid() {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if field.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if field.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		field = field.Elem()
+	}
+	if field.Kind() != reflect.String {
+		return ""
 	}
 
-	return strings.TrimSpace(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", status, str))
+	return field.String()
 }
diff --git a/samples/openapi3/client/petstore/go-petstore-withXml/client.go b/samples/openapi3/client/petstore/go-petstore-withXml/client.go
index 7f611c52fa4d..509373a8f51e 100644
--- a/samples/openapi3/client/petstore/go-petstore-withXml/client.go
+++ b/samples/openapi3/client/petstore/go-petstore-withXml/client.go
@@ -655,20 +655,51 @@ func (e GenericOpenAPIError) Model() interface{} {
 
 // format error message using title and detail when model implements rfc7807
 func formatErrorMessage(status string, v interface{}) string {
-	str := ""
-	metaValue := reflect.ValueOf(v).Elem()
+	title := rfc7807Field(v, "Title")
+	detail := rfc7807Field(v, "Detail")
+
+	var str string
+	switch {
+	case title != "" && detail != "":
+		str = title + " (" + detail + ")"
+	case title != "":
+		str = title
+	default:
+		str = detail
+	}
+
+	return strings.TrimSpace(status + " " + str)
+}
 
-	if metaValue.Kind() == reflect.Struct {
-		field := metaValue.FieldByName("Title")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s", field.Interface())
+// rfc7807Field reads a string member of an rfc7807 model, following one level of pointer
+// indirection so that an optional field declared as *string yields its value rather than its
+// address. It returns the empty string when the member is absent, is a nil pointer, or holds the
+// empty string, so a member that was not set contributes nothing to the message.
+func rfc7807Field(v interface{}, name string) string {
+	value := reflect.ValueOf(v)
+	if value.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		value = value.Elem()
+	}
+	if value.Kind() != reflect.Struct {
+		return ""
+	}
 
-		field = metaValue.FieldByName("Detail")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s (%s)", str, field.Interface())
+	field := value.FieldByName(name)
+	if !field.IsValid() {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if field.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if field.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		field = field.Elem()
+	}
+	if field.Kind() != reflect.String {
+		return ""
 	}
 
-	return strings.TrimSpace(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", status, str))
+	return field.String()
 }
diff --git a/samples/openapi3/client/petstore/go/go-petstore-aws-signature/client.go b/samples/openapi3/client/petstore/go/go-petstore-aws-signature/client.go
index 73c66a0e3188..b4d1531b3348 100644
--- a/samples/openapi3/client/petstore/go/go-petstore-aws-signature/client.go
+++ b/samples/openapi3/client/petstore/go/go-petstore-aws-signature/client.go
@@ -697,20 +697,51 @@ func (e GenericOpenAPIError) Model() interface{} {
 
 // format error message using title and detail when model implements rfc7807
 func formatErrorMessage(status string, v interface{}) string {
-	str := ""
-	metaValue := reflect.ValueOf(v).Elem()
+	title := rfc7807Field(v, "Title")
+	detail := rfc7807Field(v, "Detail")
+
+	var str string
+	switch {
+	case title != "" && detail != "":
+		str = title + " (" + detail + ")"
+	case title != "":
+		str = title
+	default:
+		str = detail
+	}
+
+	return strings.TrimSpace(status + " " + str)
+}
 
-	if metaValue.Kind() == reflect.Struct {
-		field := metaValue.FieldByName("Title")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s", field.Interface())
+// rfc7807Field reads a string member of an rfc7807 model, following one level of pointer
+// indirection so that an optional field declared as *string yields its value rather than its
+// address. It returns the empty string when the member is absent, is a nil pointer, or holds the
+// empty string, so a member that was not set contributes nothing to the message.
+func rfc7807Field(v interface{}, name string) string {
+	value := reflect.ValueOf(v)
+	if value.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		value = value.Elem()
+	}
+	if value.Kind() != reflect.Struct {
+		return ""
+	}
 
-		field = metaValue.FieldByName("Detail")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s (%s)", str, field.Interface())
+	field := value.FieldByName(name)
+	if !field.IsValid() {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if field.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if field.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		field = field.Elem()
+	}
+	if field.Kind() != reflect.String {
+		return ""
 	}
 
-	return strings.TrimSpace(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", status, str))
+	return field.String()
 }
diff --git a/samples/openapi3/client/petstore/go/go-petstore/client.go b/samples/openapi3/client/petstore/go/go-petstore/client.go
index 8f341a904a36..efa5216f451f 100644
--- a/samples/openapi3/client/petstore/go/go-petstore/client.go
+++ b/samples/openapi3/client/petstore/go/go-petstore/client.go
@@ -693,20 +693,51 @@ func (e GenericOpenAPIError) Model() interface{} {
 
 // format error message using title and detail when model implements rfc7807
 func formatErrorMessage(status string, v interface{}) string {
-	str := ""
-	metaValue := reflect.ValueOf(v).Elem()
+	title := rfc7807Field(v, "Title")
+	detail := rfc7807Field(v, "Detail")
+
+	var str string
+	switch {
+	case title != "" && detail != "":
+		str = title + " (" + detail + ")"
+	case title != "":
+		str = title
+	default:
+		str = detail
+	}
+
+	return strings.TrimSpace(status + " " + str)
+}
 
-	if metaValue.Kind() == reflect.Struct {
-		field := metaValue.FieldByName("Title")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s", field.Interface())
+// rfc7807Field reads a string member of an rfc7807 model, following one level of pointer
+// indirection so that an optional field declared as *string yields its value rather than its
+// address. It returns the empty string when the member is absent, is a nil pointer, or holds the
+// empty string, so a member that was not set contributes nothing to the message.
+func rfc7807Field(v interface{}, name string) string {
+	value := reflect.ValueOf(v)
+	if value.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		value = value.Elem()
+	}
+	if value.Kind() != reflect.Struct {
+		return ""
+	}
 
-		field = metaValue.FieldByName("Detail")
-		if field != (reflect.Value{}) {
-			str = fmt.Sprintf("%s (%s)", str, field.Interface())
+	field := value.FieldByName(name)
+	if !field.IsValid() {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if field.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if field.IsNil() {
+			return ""
 		}
+		field = field.Elem()
+	}
+	if field.Kind() != reflect.String {
+		return ""
 	}
 
-	return strings.TrimSpace(fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", status, str))
+	return field.String()
 }