diff --git a/notmuch-reply.c b/notmuch-reply.c
index 3c6d685c..a74194a3 100644
--- a/notmuch-reply.c
+++ b/notmuch-reply.c
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ notmuch_reply_format_sprinter(void *ctx,
 	return 1;
 
     if (count != 1) {
-	fprintf (stderr, "Error: search term did not match precisely one message.\n");
+	fprintf (stderr, "Error: search term did not match precisely one message (matched %d messages).\n", count);
 	return 1;
     }
 
diff --git a/notmuch-show.c b/notmuch-show.c
index 87e52bbc..3d5033d6 100644
--- a/notmuch-show.c
+++ b/notmuch-show.c
@@ -904,7 +904,7 @@ do_show_single (void *ctx,
 	return 1;
 
     if (count != 1) {
-	fprintf (stderr, "Error: search term did not match precisely one message.\n");
+	fprintf (stderr, "Error: search term did not match precisely one message (matched %d messages).\n", count);
 	return 1;
     }
 
diff --git a/test/T210-raw.sh b/test/T210-raw.sh
index dfea2d19..832a4ad3 100755
--- a/test/T210-raw.sh
+++ b/test/T210-raw.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ add_message
 
 test_begin_subtest "Attempt to show multiple raw messages"
 output=$(notmuch show --format=raw "*" 2>&1)
-test_expect_equal "$output" "Error: search term did not match precisely one message."
+test_expect_equal "$output" "Error: search term did not match precisely one message (matched 2 messages)."
 
 test_begin_subtest "Show a raw message"
 output=$(notmuch show --format=raw id:msg-001@notmuch-test-suite | notmuch_date_sanitize)