diff --git a/pkgs/lib/modules.nix b/pkgs/lib/modules.nix
index ea38010cecc..9dda89b09f0 100644
--- a/pkgs/lib/modules.nix
+++ b/pkgs/lib/modules.nix
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ rec {
               let opt = option.decl; in
               opt.apply (
                 if isNotDefined then
-                  opt.default or (throw "Not defined.")
+                  opt.default or (throw "Option `${addName name}' not defined and does not have a default value.")
                 else opt.merge defs
               )
             );