diff --git a/ChangeLog.md b/ChangeLog.md
--- a/ChangeLog.md
+++ b/ChangeLog.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+## 2.5.3.1
+
+* Slight improvement to the error message when a Persistent field can't be parsed from database results
+
 ## 2.5.3
 
 * Exposed `parseReferences` to allow custom QuasiQuoters
diff --git a/Database/Persist/TH.hs b/Database/Persist/TH.hs
--- a/Database/Persist/TH.hs
+++ b/Database/Persist/TH.hs
@@ -615,7 +615,7 @@
 mapLeft f (Left l)  = Left (f l)
 
 fieldError :: Text -> Text -> Text
-fieldError fieldName err = "field " `mappend` fieldName `mappend` ": " `mappend` err
+fieldError fieldName err = "Couldn't parse field `" `mappend` fieldName `mappend` "` from database results: " `mappend` err
 
 mkFromPersistValues :: MkPersistSettings -> EntityDef -> Q [Clause]
 mkFromPersistValues _ t@(EntityDef { entitySum = False }) =
diff --git a/persistent-template.cabal b/persistent-template.cabal
--- a/persistent-template.cabal
+++ b/persistent-template.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:            persistent-template
-version:         2.5.3
+version:         2.5.3.1
 license:         MIT
 license-file:    LICENSE
 author:          Michael Snoyman <michael@snoyman.com>