diff --git a/cosmwasm/contracts/wormhole-ibc/src/contract.rs b/cosmwasm/contracts/wormhole-ibc/src/contract.rs
index 68b2393393..9817ccd13f 100644
--- a/cosmwasm/contracts/wormhole-ibc/src/contract.rs
+++ b/cosmwasm/contracts/wormhole-ibc/src/contract.rs
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ fn handle_vaa(deps: DepsMut, env: Env, vaa: Binary) -> anyhow::Result<Event> {
         .context("failed to load contract config")?;
     ensure!(
         govpacket.chain == Chain::from(state.chain_id),
-        "this governance VAA is for another chain"
+        format!("this governance VAA is for chain {}, which does not match this chain ({})", u16::from(govpacket.chain), state.chain_id)
     );
 
     // governance VAA replay protection