diff --git a/crates/typst-library/src/layout/grid/resolve.rs b/crates/typst-library/src/layout/grid/resolve.rs
index 120f60d9b..5d9c788eb 100644
--- a/crates/typst-library/src/layout/grid/resolve.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-library/src/layout/grid/resolve.rs
@@ -1051,7 +1051,8 @@ impl<'a> CellGrid<'a> {
                     if new_child_start < first_available_row {
                         bail!(
                             cell_span,
-                            "cell would cause header or footer to expand to a non-empty row";
+                            "cell would cause header or footer to expand to non-empty row {}",
+                            first_available_row.saturating_sub(1);
                             hint: "try moving its cells to later rows"
                         );
                     }
@@ -1106,13 +1107,13 @@ impl<'a> CellGrid<'a> {
                                 if new_y < child_start.min(new_child_end) {
                                     bail!(
                                         cell_span,
-                                        "cell would cause header or footer to expand to a non-empty row";
+                                        "cell would cause header or footer to expand to non-empty row {new_y}";
                                         hint: "try moving its cells to later rows"
                                     );
                                 } else {
                                     bail!(
                                         cell_span,
-                                        "cell would cause header or footer to expand to a non-empty row";
+                                        "cell would cause header or footer to expand to non-empty row {new_y}";
                                         hint: "try moving its cells to earlier rows"
                                     );
                                 }
diff --git a/tests/suite/layout/grid/footers.typ b/tests/suite/layout/grid/footers.typ
index ffe105228..2d4ce31b9 100644
--- a/tests/suite/layout/grid/footers.typ
+++ b/tests/suite/layout/grid/footers.typ
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@
   table.footer(
     table.hline(stroke: red),
     table.hline(y: 1, stroke: aqua),
-    // Error: 5-24 cell would cause header or footer to expand to a non-empty row
+    // Error: 5-24 cell would cause header or footer to expand to non-empty row 0
     // Hint: 5-24 try moving its cells to later rows
     table.cell(y: 0)[b],
     [c]
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@
   table.footer(
     [b], [c],
     // TODO: Why is the span just the letter 'd'?
-    // Error: 6-7 cell would cause header or footer to expand to a non-empty row
+    // Error: 6-7 cell would cause header or footer to expand to non-empty row 1
     // Hint: 6-7 try moving its cells to earlier rows
     [d],
   ),
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@
   table.cell(y: 2)[a],
   table.footer(
     [b], [c],
-    // Error: 5-24 cell would cause header or footer to expand to a non-empty row
+    // Error: 5-24 cell would cause header or footer to expand to non-empty row 2
     // Hint: 5-24 try moving its cells to earlier rows
     table.cell(y: 3)[d],
   ),
@@ -470,7 +470,7 @@
   columns: 2,
   table.header(),
   table.footer(
-    // Error: 5-24 cell would cause header or footer to expand to a non-empty row
+    // Error: 5-24 cell would cause header or footer to expand to non-empty row 0
     // Hint: 5-24 try moving its cells to later rows
     table.cell(y: 0)[a]
   ),
diff --git a/tests/suite/layout/grid/headers.typ b/tests/suite/layout/grid/headers.typ
index 349077754..eb329cb71 100644
--- a/tests/suite/layout/grid/headers.typ
+++ b/tests/suite/layout/grid/headers.typ
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@
   table.header(
     table.hline(stroke: red),
     table.hline(y: 1, stroke: aqua),
-    // Error: 5-24 cell would cause header or footer to expand to a non-empty row
+    // Error: 5-24 cell would cause header or footer to expand to non-empty row 0
     // Hint: 5-24 try moving its cells to later rows
     table.cell(y: 0)[b],
     [c]
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@
   table.header(
     table.hline(stroke: red),
     table.hline(y: 3, stroke: aqua),
-    // Error: 5-24 cell would cause header or footer to expand to a non-empty row
+    // Error: 5-24 cell would cause header or footer to expand to non-empty row 2
     // Hint: 5-24 try moving its cells to later rows
     table.cell(y: 2)[b],
   )
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@
   table.header(
     [b], [c],
     // TODO: A bit odd that this span is just the letter 'd'
-    // Error: 6-7 cell would cause header or footer to expand to a non-empty row
+    // Error: 6-7 cell would cause header or footer to expand to non-empty row 1
     // Hint: 6-7 try moving its cells to earlier rows
     [d],
   ),
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@
   table.cell(y: 2)[a],
   table.header(
     [b], [c],
-    // Error: 5-24 cell would cause header or footer to expand to a non-empty row
+    // Error: 5-24 cell would cause header or footer to expand to non-empty row 2
     // Hint: 5-24 try moving its cells to earlier rows
     table.cell(y: 3)[d],
   ),