diff --git a/scene/resources/surface_tool.cpp b/scene/resources/surface_tool.cpp
index b83be8b6efb..3273bc3c007 100644
--- a/scene/resources/surface_tool.cpp
+++ b/scene/resources/surface_tool.cpp
@@ -1158,7 +1158,7 @@ void SurfaceTool::mikktSetTSpaceDefault(const SMikkTSpaceContext *pContext, cons
 }
 
 void SurfaceTool::generate_tangents() {
-	ERR_FAIL_COND(!(format & Mesh::ARRAY_FORMAT_TEX_UV));
+	ERR_FAIL_COND_MSG(!(format & Mesh::ARRAY_FORMAT_TEX_UV), "UVs are required to generate tangents.");
 	ERR_FAIL_COND(!(format & Mesh::ARRAY_FORMAT_NORMAL));
 
 	SMikkTSpaceInterface mkif;