diff --git a/bundles/org.openhab.binding.modbus/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/modbus/internal/handler/ModbusDataThingHandler.java b/bundles/org.openhab.binding.modbus/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/modbus/internal/handler/ModbusDataThingHandler.java
index d1b03d1c1da9..4a83ef83a7f4 100644
--- a/bundles/org.openhab.binding.modbus/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/modbus/internal/handler/ModbusDataThingHandler.java
+++ b/bundles/org.openhab.binding.modbus/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/modbus/internal/handler/ModbusDataThingHandler.java
@@ -718,11 +718,14 @@ private void validateReadIndex() throws ModbusConfigurationException {
         }
 
         if (valueTypeBitCount >= 16 && readSubIndex.isPresent()) {
-            String errmsg = String
-                    .format("readStart=X.Y is not allowed to be used with value types larger than 16bit!");
+            String errmsg = String.format(
+                    "readStart=X.Y notation is not allowed to be used with value types larger than 16bit! Use readStart=X instead.");
             throw new ModbusConfigurationException(errmsg);
         } else if (!bitQuery && valueTypeBitCount < 16 && !readSubIndex.isPresent()) {
-            String errmsg = String.format("readStart=X.Y must be used with value types less than 16bit!");
+            // User has specified value type which is less than register width (16 bits).
+            // readStart=X.Y notation must be used to define which data to extract from the 16 bit register.
+            String errmsg = String
+                    .format("readStart=X.Y must be used with value types (readValueType) less than 16bit!");
             throw new ModbusConfigurationException(errmsg);
         } else if (readSubIndex.isPresent() && (readSubIndex.get() + 1) * valueTypeBitCount > 16) {
             // the sub index Y (in X.Y) is above the register limits