diff --git a/packages/core/src/db/__tests__/__snapshots__/index-test.js.snap b/packages/core/src/db/__tests__/__snapshots__/index-test.js.snap
index 92fd26695..4bb14f1eb 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/db/__tests__/__snapshots__/index-test.js.snap
+++ b/packages/core/src/db/__tests__/__snapshots__/index-test.js.snap
@@ -115,4 +115,4 @@ Object {
 }
 `;
 
-exports[`db should throw when value isn't there 1`] = `[NotFoundError: ID not found in database]`;
+exports[`db should throw when value isn't there 1`] = `[NotFoundError: ID 'baz' not found in database ('error')]`;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/db/index.js b/packages/core/src/db/index.js
index 8cfe09070..9ed297205 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/db/index.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/db/index.js
@@ -140,7 +140,9 @@ const db = {
   ): PhenomicDBEntryDetailed {
     const item = getSublevel(sub).find(item => item.id === id);
     if (typeof item === "undefined") {
-      throw new NotFoundError("ID not found in database");
+      throw new NotFoundError(
+        `ID '${id}' not found in database ('${String(sub)}')`
+      );
     }
     const { body, ...metadata } = item.data;
     const relatedData = getDataRelations(metadata);