diff --git a/pkg/action/validate.go b/pkg/action/validate.go
index 526a4c7fc..30a1d1197 100644
--- a/pkg/action/validate.go
+++ b/pkg/action/validate.go
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ func existingResourceConflict(resources kube.ResourceList) error {
 		}
 
 		helper := resource.NewHelper(info.Client, info.Mapping)
-		if _, err := helper.Get(info.Namespace, info.Name, info.Export); err != nil {
+		existing, err := helper.Get(info.Namespace, info.Name, info.Export)
+		if err != nil {
 			if apierrors.IsNotFound(err) {
 				return nil
 			}
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ func existingResourceConflict(resources kube.ResourceList) error {
 			return errors.Wrap(err, "could not get information about the resource")
 		}
 
-		return fmt.Errorf("existing resource conflict: kind: %s, namespace: %s, name: %s", info.Mapping.GroupVersionKind.Kind, info.Namespace, info.Name)
+		return fmt.Errorf("existing resource conflict: namespace: %s, name: %s, existing: [gvk: %s, ] / new: [gvk: %s]", info.Namespace, info.Name, existing.GetObjectKind().GroupVersionKind(), info.Mapping.GroupVersionKind)
 	})
 	return err
 }