diff --git a/changelog.d/source_send_cancelled_message_clarification.enhancement.md b/changelog.d/source_send_cancelled_message_clarification.enhancement.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..51435d379f240
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/source_send_cancelled_message_clarification.enhancement.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+Updated the `source send cancelled` error message to point towards possible causes.
+This error usually happens either because a pipeline is shutting down or because
+of backpressure.
+
+authors: clementd-dd
diff --git a/lib/vector-core/src/source_sender/output.rs b/lib/vector-core/src/source_sender/output.rs
index 6569fd5ca0074..21774e2ec4cfd 100644
--- a/lib/vector-core/src/source_sender/output.rs
+++ b/lib/vector-core/src/source_sender/output.rs
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ impl Drop for UnsentEventCount {
             let _enter = self.span.enter();
             internal_event::emit(ComponentEventsDropped::<UNINTENTIONAL> {
                 count: self.count,
-                reason: "Source send cancelled.",
+                reason: "Source send interrupted mid-flight; pipeline may be overloaded or shutting down.",
             });
         }
     }