diff --git a/numpyro/primitives.py b/numpyro/primitives.py
index 1898fcf69..f37571aac 100644
--- a/numpyro/primitives.py
+++ b/numpyro/primitives.py
@@ -181,10 +181,11 @@ def sample(
     )
     if not isinstance(fn, numpyro.distributions.Distribution):
         type_error = TypeError(
-            "It looks like you tried to use a fn that isn't an instance of "
+            "Invalid type for 'fn': expected an instance of "
             "numpyro.distributions.Distribution, funsor.Funsor or "
-            "tensorflow_probability.distributions.Distribution. If you're using "
-            "funsor or tensorflow_probability, make sure they are correctly installed."
+            "tensorflow_probability.distributions.Distribution, "
+            f"but received {type(fn).__name__}. If you're using funsor or "
+            "tensorflow_probability, make sure they are correctly installed."
         )
 
         # fn can be a funsor.Funsor, but this won't be installed for all users