diff --git a/tools/sanity_checks.py b/tools/sanity_checks.py
index a349e1571..38c798525 100755
--- a/tools/sanity_checks.py
+++ b/tools/sanity_checks.py
@@ -330,8 +330,15 @@ def test_releases(self) -> None:
                         )
                     progs = [i for i in progs if i]
                     deps = [i for i in deps if i]
-                    self.assertEqual(sorted(progs), sorted(info.get('program_names', [])))
-                    self.assertEqual(sorted(deps), sorted(info.get('dependency_names', [])))
+                    self.assertEqual(
+                        sorted(progs),
+                        sorted(info.get('program_names', [])),
+                        'program_names in the wrap file and releases.json do not list the same names.')
+                    self.assertEqual(
+                        sorted(deps),
+                        sorted(info.get('dependency_names', [])),
+                        'dependency_names in releases.json does not list the same names as'
+                        ' dependency_names plus any transitional provides in the wrap file.')
 
                 # Downstream ports shouldn't use transitional provides syntax
                 # FIXME: Not all wraps currently comply, only check for wraps we modify.