diff --git a/include/mapnik/datasource_cache.hpp b/include/mapnik/datasource_cache.hpp
index 8ac3ecfbc..55b44343a 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/datasource_cache.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/datasource_cache.hpp
@@ -48,8 +48,10 @@ private:
     static std::map<std::string,boost::shared_ptr<PluginInfo> > plugins_;
     static bool registered_;
     static bool insert(const std::string&  name,const lt_dlhandle module);
+    static std::vector<std::string> plugin_directories_;
 public:
-    static std::vector<std::string> plugin_names ();
+    static std::vector<std::string> plugin_names();
+    static std::string plugin_directories();    
     static void register_datasources(const std::string& path);
     static boost::shared_ptr<datasource> create(parameters const& params);
 };
diff --git a/src/datasource_cache.cpp b/src/datasource_cache.cpp
index 34dfb0d49..a1dbd6524 100644
--- a/src/datasource_cache.cpp
+++ b/src/datasource_cache.cpp
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ datasource_cache::~datasource_cache()
 
 std::map<string,boost::shared_ptr<PluginInfo> > datasource_cache::plugins_;
 bool datasource_cache::registered_=false;
+std::vector<std::string> datasource_cache::plugin_directories_;
     
 datasource_ptr datasource_cache::create(const parameters& params) 
 {
@@ -76,7 +77,7 @@ datasource_ptr datasource_cache::create(const parameters& params)
     if ( itr == plugins_.end() )
     {
         throw config_error(string("Could not create datasource. No plugin ") +
-                           "found for type '" + * type + "'");
+                           "found for type '" + * type + "' (searched in: " + plugin_directories() + ")");
     }
     if ( ! itr->second->handle())
     {
@@ -114,6 +115,11 @@ bool datasource_cache::insert(const std::string& type,const lt_dlhandle module)
                                      (new PluginInfo(type,module)))).second;     
 }
 
+std::string datasource_cache::plugin_directories()
+{
+    return boost::algorithm::join(plugin_directories_,", ");
+}
+
 std::vector<std::string> datasource_cache::plugin_names ()
 {
     std::vector<std::string> names;
@@ -132,6 +138,7 @@ void datasource_cache::register_datasources(const std::string& str)
                             mapnik::CreateStatic>::mutex_);
 #endif
     filesystem::path path(str);
+    plugin_directories_.push_back(str);
     filesystem::directory_iterator end_itr;