diff --git a/src/bls12_381/fq.rs b/src/bls12_381/fq.rs
index e38a7ea31..177b3d76b 100644
--- a/src/bls12_381/fq.rs
+++ b/src/bls12_381/fq.rs
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ impl PrimeField for Fq {
 
             Ok(r)
         } else {
-            Err(PrimeFieldDecodingError::NotInField)
+            Err(PrimeFieldDecodingError::NotInField(format!("{:?}", r.0)))
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/bls12_381/fr.rs b/src/bls12_381/fr.rs
index 7561a56b8..2c2128fa7 100644
--- a/src/bls12_381/fr.rs
+++ b/src/bls12_381/fr.rs
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ impl PrimeField for Fr {
 
             Ok(r)
         } else {
-            Err(PrimeFieldDecodingError::NotInField)
+            Err(PrimeFieldDecodingError::NotInField(format!("{:?}", r.0)))
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index a4988d21a..c7aa7d148 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -365,20 +365,24 @@ pub trait PrimeFieldRepr: Sized +
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub enum PrimeFieldDecodingError {
     // The encoded value is not in the field
-    NotInField
+    NotInField(String)
 }
 
 impl Error for PrimeFieldDecodingError {
     fn description(&self) -> &str {
         match self {
-            &PrimeFieldDecodingError::NotInField => "not an element in the field"
+            &PrimeFieldDecodingError::NotInField(..) => "not an element of the field"
         }
     }
 }
 
 impl fmt::Display for PrimeFieldDecodingError {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> Result<(), fmt::Error> {
-        write!(f, "{}", self.description())
+        match self {
+            &PrimeFieldDecodingError::NotInField(ref repr) => {
+                write!(f, "{} is not an element of the field", repr)
+            }
+        }
     }
 }