diff --git a/ddtrace/llmobs/_llmobs.py b/ddtrace/llmobs/_llmobs.py
index 9fb494d54f8..e9e30e747e4 100644
--- a/ddtrace/llmobs/_llmobs.py
+++ b/ddtrace/llmobs/_llmobs.py
@@ -812,8 +812,9 @@ def _start_span(
         ml_app = ml_app if ml_app is not None else _get_ml_app(span)
         if ml_app is None:
             raise ValueError(
-                "ML app is required for sending LLM Observability data. "
-                "Ensure this configuration is set before running your application."
+                "ml_app is required for sending LLM Observability data. "
+                "Ensure the name of your LLM application is set via `DD_LLMOBS_ML_APP` or `LLMObs.enable(ml_app='...')`"
+                "before running your application."
             )
         span._set_ctx_items({DECORATOR: _decorator, SPAN_KIND: operation_kind, ML_APP: ml_app})
         return span