diff --git a/smithy-model/src/main/java/software/amazon/smithy/model/validation/validators/OperationValidator.java b/smithy-model/src/main/java/software/amazon/smithy/model/validation/validators/OperationValidator.java
index 42e48cd01fa..1b90a842d37 100644
--- a/smithy-model/src/main/java/software/amazon/smithy/model/validation/validators/OperationValidator.java
+++ b/smithy-model/src/main/java/software/amazon/smithy/model/validation/validators/OperationValidator.java
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ private void validateInputOutput(
                     }
                 } else if (relName.equals(invalid)) {
                     // Input shouldn't reference output, and vice versa.
-                    events.add(emitInvalidOperationBinding(rel.getShape(), descriptor, invalid));
+                    events.add(emitInvalidOperationBinding(rel.getShape(), shape, relName, descriptor));
                 } else if (rel.getRelationshipType() == RelationshipType.MEMBER_TARGET) {
                     // Members can't target shapes marked with @input or @output.
                     events.add(emitInvalidMemberRef(rel.getShape().asMemberShape().get(), descriptor));
@@ -109,12 +109,19 @@ private void validateInputOutput(
         }
     }
 
-    private ValidationEvent emitInvalidOperationBinding(Shape operation, String property, String invalid) {
+    private ValidationEvent emitInvalidOperationBinding(
+            Shape operation,
+            Shape target,
+            String property,
+            String invalid
+    ) {
         return ValidationEvent.builder()
                 .id(OPERATION_INPUT_OUTPUT_MISUSE)
                 .severity(Severity.ERROR)
                 .shape(operation)
-                .message("Operation " + property + " cannot target structures marked with the @" + invalid + " trait")
+                .message(String.format(
+                        "Operation `%s` cannot target structures marked with the `@%s` trait: `%s`",
+                        property, invalid, target.getId()))
                 .build();
     }
 
diff --git a/smithy-model/src/test/resources/software/amazon/smithy/model/errorfiles/validators/operation/input-output-traits/invalid-input-output-operation-bindings.errors b/smithy-model/src/test/resources/software/amazon/smithy/model/errorfiles/validators/operation/input-output-traits/invalid-input-output-operation-bindings.errors
index 3f5afdf870f..5e3f02c1e57 100644
--- a/smithy-model/src/test/resources/software/amazon/smithy/model/errorfiles/validators/operation/input-output-traits/invalid-input-output-operation-bindings.errors
+++ b/smithy-model/src/test/resources/software/amazon/smithy/model/errorfiles/validators/operation/input-output-traits/invalid-input-output-operation-bindings.errors
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-[ERROR] smithy.example#GetFoo: Operation input cannot target structures marked with the @output trait | OperationInputOutputMisuse
-[ERROR] smithy.example#GetFoo: Operation output cannot target structures marked with the @input trait | OperationInputOutputMisuse
+[ERROR] smithy.example#GetFoo: Operation `input` cannot target structures marked with the `@output` trait: `smithy.example#GetFooOutput` | OperationInputOutputMisuse
+[ERROR] smithy.example#GetFoo: Operation `output` cannot target structures marked with the `@input` trait: `smithy.example#GetFooInput` | OperationInputOutputMisuse