diff --git a/src/cargo/ops/lockfile.rs b/src/cargo/ops/lockfile.rs
index 6f655b8c309..91eb0b4d81e 100644
--- a/src/cargo/ops/lockfile.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/ops/lockfile.rs
@@ -84,8 +84,9 @@ pub fn write_pkg_lockfile(ws: &Workspace, resolve: &Resolve) -> CargoResult<()>
             "--frozen"
         };
         bail!(
-            "the lock file needs to be updated but {} was passed to \
+            "the lock file {} needs to be updated but {} was passed to \
              prevent this",
+            ws.root().to_path_buf().join("Cargo.lock").display(),
             flag
         );
     }
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/lockfile_compat.rs b/tests/testsuite/lockfile_compat.rs
index 218144a421f..a4adcdc8303 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/lockfile_compat.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/lockfile_compat.rs
@@ -480,7 +480,7 @@ fn locked_correct_error() {
         .with_stderr(
             "\
 [UPDATING] `[..]` index
-error: the lock file needs to be updated but --locked was passed to prevent this
+error: the lock file [CWD]/Cargo.lock needs to be updated but --locked was passed to prevent this
 ",
         ).run();
 }