diff --git a/bundle/config/interpolation/interpolation.go b/bundle/config/interpolation/interpolation.go
index bf5bd169ef..8ba0b8b1ff 100644
--- a/bundle/config/interpolation/interpolation.go
+++ b/bundle/config/interpolation/interpolation.go
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ func (a *accumulator) Resolve(path string, seenPaths []string, fns ...LookupFunc
 	// fetch the string node to resolve
 	field, ok := a.strings[path]
 	if !ok {
-		return fmt.Errorf("could not resolve reference %s", path)
+		return fmt.Errorf("no value found for interpolation reference: ${%s}", path)
 	}
 
 	// return early if the string field has no variables to interpolate
diff --git a/bundle/config/interpolation/interpolation_test.go b/bundle/config/interpolation/interpolation_test.go
index 83254c9b0b..cccb6dc718 100644
--- a/bundle/config/interpolation/interpolation_test.go
+++ b/bundle/config/interpolation/interpolation_test.go
@@ -247,5 +247,5 @@ func TestInterpolationInvalidVariableReference(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	err := expand(&config)
-	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "could not resolve reference vars.foo")
+	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "no value found for interpolation reference: ${vars.foo}")
 }