diff --git a/visidata/features/join.py b/visidata/features/join.py
index 4bf2a8d32..85a0b4c08 100644
--- a/visidata/features/join.py
+++ b/visidata/features/join.py
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ def calcValue(self, row):
             if row[c.sheet] is not None:
                 vals.add(c.getTypedValue(row[c.sheet]))
         if len(vals) != 1:
-            vd.warning(f'inconsistent keys: ' + str(vals))
+            vd.warning(f"The source key columns of {', '.join([col.sheet.name + ':' + col.name for col in self.keycols])}, have different types. Type the source columns before joining.")
         return vals.pop()
 
     def putValue(self, row, value):