diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/features/component_settings_editor_helpers.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/features/component_settings_editor_helpers.py
index 2b206e4466..8a8f6deb04 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/features/component_settings_editor_helpers.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/features/component_settings_editor_helpers.py
@@ -16,7 +16,11 @@ def create_component_instance(step, component_button_css, category,
     if has_multiple_templates:
         click_component_from_menu(category, boilerplate, expected_css)
 
-    assert_equal(1, len(world.css_find(expected_css)))
+    assert_equal(
+        1,
+        len(world.css_find(expected_css)),
+        "Component instance with css {css} was not created successfully".format(css=expected_css))
+
 
 @world.absorb
 def click_new_component_button(step, component_button_css):