diff --git a/src/qcodes/parameters/command.py b/src/qcodes/parameters/command.py
index e278542d88a..b8a0131508d 100644
--- a/src/qcodes/parameters/command.py
+++ b/src/qcodes/parameters/command.py
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ def __init__(
 
         else:
             raise TypeError(
-                f"cmd must be a string or function with arg_count={arg_count} args"
+                f"cmd must be a string or function with arg_count={arg_count} args not {cmd} of type {type(cmd)}"
             )
 
     # Wrappers that may or may not be used in constructing call