diff --git a/python/pylibraft/CMakeLists.txt b/python/pylibraft/CMakeLists.txt
index 3efc3a547b..bc20c86ed6 100644
--- a/python/pylibraft/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/pylibraft/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -38,9 +38,10 @@ option(RAFT_BUILD_WHEELS "Whether this build is generating a Python wheel." OFF)
 if(FIND_RAFT_CPP)
   find_package(raft ${pylibraft_version} REQUIRED COMPONENTS distance)
   if(NOT TARGET raft::raft_distance_lib)
+    file(READ "${raft_DIR}/raft-config.cmake" contents)
     message(
       FATAL_ERROR
-        "Building against a preexisting libraft library requires the distance components of that library to have been built!"
+        "${contents} Building against a preexisting libraft library requires the distance components of that library to have been built!"
     )
 
   endif()