diff --git a/edc_model/models/url_model_mixin.py b/edc_model/models/url_model_mixin.py
index 8839b6e..76308b4 100644
--- a/edc_model/models/url_model_mixin.py
+++ b/edc_model/models/url_model_mixin.py
@@ -21,9 +21,8 @@ def get_absolute_url(self) -> str:
         except NoReverseMatch as e:
             raise UrlModelMixinNoReverseMatch(
                 f"Tried {self.admin_url_name}. Got {e}. "
-                "Confirm app is in INSTALLED_APPS. If running tests, you may need to set "
-                "`use_test_urls=True`. Otherwise, define AppConfig.admin_site_name or directly"
-                "on model.ADMIN_SITE_NAME that refers to your app specific admin site. "
+                "Check urls and confirm app is in INSTALLED_APPS. If running tests, "
+                "you may need to set `use_test_urls=True`."
             )
         return absolute_url
 
diff --git a/edc_model/utils.py b/edc_model/utils.py
index ac4eb45..a45ee75 100644
--- a/edc_model/utils.py
+++ b/edc_model/utils.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist
 from django.db import models
 from django.db.models import CharField, DateField, DateTimeField, Model
+from django.urls import reverse
 
 from .constants import REPORT_DATETIME_FIELD_NAME
 
@@ -206,3 +207,9 @@ def duration_dh_to_timedelta(duration_text: str | CharField) -> timedelta:
         hours_str = duration_text.split("h")[0]
         hours = int(hours_str)
     return timedelta(days=days, hours=hours)
+
+
+def get_history_url(obj, admin_site: str = None) -> str:
+    admin_site = admin_site or obj.admin_url_name.split(":")[0]
+    app, model = obj._meta.app_label, obj._meta.model_name
+    return reverse(f"{admin_site}:{app}_{model}_history", args=[str(obj.pk)])