diff --git a/pcbnew/router/pns_diff_pair_placer.cpp b/pcbnew/router/pns_diff_pair_placer.cpp
index 3d4f74b5b0..5f5b32ff7e 100644
--- a/pcbnew/router/pns_diff_pair_placer.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/router/pns_diff_pair_placer.cpp
@@ -437,7 +437,8 @@ OPT_VECTOR2I DIFF_PAIR_PLACER::getDanglingAnchor( NODE* aNode, ITEM* aItem )
 
 
 
-bool DIFF_PAIR_PLACER::findDpPrimitivePair( const VECTOR2I& aP, ITEM* aItem, DP_PRIMITIVE_PAIR& aPair )
+bool DIFF_PAIR_PLACER::findDpPrimitivePair( const VECTOR2I& aP, ITEM* aItem,
+                                            DP_PRIMITIVE_PAIR& aPair, wxString* aErrorMsg )
 {
     int netP, netN;
 
@@ -446,7 +447,15 @@ bool DIFF_PAIR_PLACER::findDpPrimitivePair( const VECTOR2I& aP, ITEM* aItem, DP_
     bool result = m_world->GetRuleResolver()->DpNetPair( aItem, netP, netN );
 
     if( !result )
+    {
+        if( aErrorMsg )
+        {
+            *aErrorMsg = _( "Unable to find complementary differential pair "
+                            "nets. Make sure the names of the nets belonging "
+                            "to a differential pair end with either _N/_P or +/-." );
+        }
         return false;
+    }
 
     int refNet = aItem->Net();
     int coupledNet = ( refNet == netP ) ? netN : netP;
@@ -459,7 +468,15 @@ bool DIFF_PAIR_PLACER::findDpPrimitivePair( const VECTOR2I& aP, ITEM* aItem, DP_
     wxLogTrace( "PNS", "refAnchor %p", aItem );
 
     if( !refAnchor )
+    {
+        if( aErrorMsg )
+        {
+            *aErrorMsg = _( "Can't find a suitable starting point.  If starting "
+                            "from an existing differential pair make sure you are "
+                            "at the end. " );
+        }
         return false;
+    }
 
     std::set<ITEM*> coupledItems;
 
@@ -503,7 +520,18 @@ bool DIFF_PAIR_PLACER::findDpPrimitivePair( const VECTOR2I& aP, ITEM* aItem, DP_
         }
     }
 
-    return found;
+    if( !found )
+    {
+        if( aErrorMsg )
+        {
+            *aErrorMsg = wxString::Format( _( "Can't find a suitable starting point "
+                                              "for coupled net \"%s\"." ),
+                                           m_world->GetRuleResolver()->NetName( coupledNet ) );
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    return true;
 }
 
 
@@ -522,6 +550,7 @@ int DIFF_PAIR_PLACER::gap() const
 bool DIFF_PAIR_PLACER::Start( const VECTOR2I& aP, ITEM* aStartItem )
 {
     VECTOR2I p( aP );
+    wxString msg;
 
     if( !aStartItem )
     {
@@ -533,11 +562,9 @@ bool DIFF_PAIR_PLACER::Start( const VECTOR2I& aP, ITEM* aStartItem )
     setWorld( Router()->GetWorld() );
     m_currentNode = m_world;
 
-    if( !findDpPrimitivePair( aP, aStartItem, m_start ) )
+    if( !findDpPrimitivePair( aP, aStartItem, m_start, &msg ) )
     {
-        Router()->SetFailureReason( _( "Unable to find complementary differential pair "
-                                       "net. Make sure the names of the nets belonging "
-                                       "to a differential pair end with either _N/_P or +/-." ) );
+        Router()->SetFailureReason( msg );
         return false;
     }
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/router/pns_diff_pair_placer.h b/pcbnew/router/pns_diff_pair_placer.h
index 6eb3ec8bc9..543f77b12f 100644
--- a/pcbnew/router/pns_diff_pair_placer.h
+++ b/pcbnew/router/pns_diff_pair_placer.h
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ private:
 
     const VIA makeVia ( const VECTOR2I& aP, int aNet );
 
-    bool findDpPrimitivePair( const VECTOR2I& aP, ITEM* aItem, DP_PRIMITIVE_PAIR& aPair );
+    bool findDpPrimitivePair( const VECTOR2I& aP, ITEM* aItem, DP_PRIMITIVE_PAIR& aPair, wxString* aErrorMsg = nullptr );
     OPT_VECTOR2I getDanglingAnchor( NODE* aNode, ITEM* aItem );
     bool attemptWalk( NODE* aNode, DIFF_PAIR* aCurrent, DIFF_PAIR& aWalk, bool aPFirst, bool aWindCw, bool aSolidsOnly );
     bool propagateDpHeadForces ( const VECTOR2I& aP, VECTOR2I& aNewP );
diff --git a/pcbnew/router/pns_kicad_iface.cpp b/pcbnew/router/pns_kicad_iface.cpp
index 4d70fdd22f..e9ac6953d1 100644
--- a/pcbnew/router/pns_kicad_iface.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/router/pns_kicad_iface.cpp
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ public:
     virtual int DpCoupledNet( int aNet ) override;
     virtual int DpNetPolarity( int aNet ) override;
     virtual bool DpNetPair( PNS::ITEM* aItem, int& aNetP, int& aNetN ) override;
+    virtual wxString NetName( int aNet ) override;
 
 private:
     struct CLEARANCE_ENT
@@ -315,6 +316,12 @@ int PNS_PCBNEW_RULE_RESOLVER::DpCoupledNet( int aNet )
 }
 
 
+wxString PNS_PCBNEW_RULE_RESOLVER::NetName( int aNet )
+{
+    return m_board->FindNet( aNet )->GetNetname();
+}
+
+
 int PNS_PCBNEW_RULE_RESOLVER::DpNetPolarity( int aNet )
 {
     wxString refName = m_board->FindNet( aNet )->GetNetname();
diff --git a/pcbnew/router/pns_node.h b/pcbnew/router/pns_node.h
index b7278fa818..6ee8468af0 100644
--- a/pcbnew/router/pns_node.h
+++ b/pcbnew/router/pns_node.h
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ public:
     virtual int DpCoupledNet( int aNet ) = 0;
     virtual int DpNetPolarity( int aNet ) = 0;
     virtual bool DpNetPair( ITEM* aItem, int& aNetP, int& aNetN ) = 0;
+    virtual wxString NetName( int aNet ) = 0;
 };
 
 /**