diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 145fab4..983ce68 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 * 2.6.next in progress
   * Address [#527](https://github.com/seancorfield/honeysql/issues/527) by adding tests and more documentation for `:composite`.
   * Add example of mixed `DO UPDATE SET` with `EXCLUDED` and regular SQL expressions.
+  * Improve exception message when un-`lift`-ed JSON expressions are used in the DSL.
   * Update Clojure versions (to 1.11.2 and 1.12.0-alpha9); update other dev/test dependencies.
 
 * 2.6.1126 -- 2024-03-04
diff --git a/src/honey/sql.cljc b/src/honey/sql.cljc
index 1d09d33..d528fe6 100644
--- a/src/honey/sql.cljc
+++ b/src/honey/sql.cljc
@@ -1576,7 +1576,10 @@
                   *clause-order*)]
       (if (seq leftover)
         (throw (ex-info (str "These SQL clauses are unknown or have nil values: "
-                             (str/join ", " (keys leftover)))
+                             (str/join ", " (keys leftover))
+                             "(perhaps you need [:lift {"
+                             (first (keys leftover))
+                             " ...}] here?)")
                         leftover))
         (into [(cond-> (str/join (if pretty "\n" " ") (filter seq sqls))
                  pretty