diff --git a/lang/java/avro/src/main/java/org/apache/avro/SystemLimitException.java b/lang/java/avro/src/main/java/org/apache/avro/SystemLimitException.java
index 7e89b58b8b0..22c947204e8 100644
--- a/lang/java/avro/src/main/java/org/apache/avro/SystemLimitException.java
+++ b/lang/java/avro/src/main/java/org/apache/avro/SystemLimitException.java
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ public static int checkMaxCollectionLength(long items) {
           "Cannot read collections larger than " + MAX_ARRAY_VM_LIMIT + " items in Java library");
     }
     if (items > maxCollectionLength) {
-      throw new SystemLimitException("Collection length " + items + " exceeds maximum allowed");
+      throw new SystemLimitException("Collection length " + items + " exceeds the maximum allowed of " + maxCollectionLength);
     }
     return (int) items;
   }