diff --git a/archive_api/serializers.py b/archive_api/serializers.py
index 38f3e1de..b9820ebb 100644
--- a/archive_api/serializers.py
+++ b/archive_api/serializers.py
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ def validate(self, data):
 
         # Make sure description has at least 100 words
         if 'description' in data.keys() and data['description'] and len(data['description'].split()) < 100:
-            errors["description"] = "Description must be at least 100 words."
+            errors["description"] = f"Description must be at least 100 words. Current count is {len(data['description'].split())}."
 
         # Validate the selected plots
         if 'plots' in data.keys():
diff --git a/archive_api/tests/test_api.py b/archive_api/tests/test_api.py
index 46b151f0..ddfb6b8c 100644
--- a/archive_api/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/archive_api/tests/test_api.py
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ def test_user_workflow(self):
         value = json.loads(response.content.decode('utf-8'))
         self.assertEqual(status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST, response.status_code)
         self.assertEqual(
-            {'description': ['Description must be at least 100 words.'],
+            {'description': ['Description must be at least 100 words. Current count is 37.'],
              'missingRequiredFields': ['archive', 'authors', 'funding_organizations', 'originating_institution',
                                        'qaqc_method_description']},
             value)
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ def test_admin_approve_workflow(self):
         response = self.client.get("/api/v1/datasets/1/submit/")  # In draft mode, owned by auser
         value = json.loads(response.content.decode('utf-8'))
         self.assertEqual(
-            {'description': ['Description must be at least 100 words.'],
+            {'description': ['Description must be at least 100 words. Current count is 37.'],
              'missingRequiredFields': ['archive', 'authors', 'funding_organizations', 'originating_institution',
                                        'qaqc_method_description']},
             value)