diff --git a/frontend/javascripts/messages.tsx b/frontend/javascripts/messages.tsx
index 3824118b97a..3f1a549da81 100644
--- a/frontend/javascripts/messages.tsx
+++ b/frontend/javascripts/messages.tsx
@@ -360,7 +360,6 @@ instead. Only enable this option if you understand its effect. All layers will n
   "dataset.name.already_taken":
     "This name is already being used by a different dataset. Please choose a different name.",
   "dataset.no_data": "No data available! Something seems to be wrong with the dataset.",
-  "dataset.not_imported": "Please double check if you have the dataset imported:",
   "dataset.changed_without_reload":
     "Model.fetch was called for a task with another dataset, without reloading the page.",
   "dataset.import.required.name": "Please provide a name for the dataset.",
diff --git a/frontend/javascripts/viewer/model_initialization.ts b/frontend/javascripts/viewer/model_initialization.ts
index e6065ae5c59..277a0834830 100644
--- a/frontend/javascripts/viewer/model_initialization.ts
+++ b/frontend/javascripts/viewer/model_initialization.ts
@@ -213,6 +213,7 @@ export async function initialize(
     datasetId,
     version,
   );
+  assertUsableDataset(apiDataset as StoreDataset, initialCommandType);
   maybeFixDatasetNameInURL(apiDataset, initialCommandType);
 
   const serverVolumeTracings = getServerVolumeTracings(serverTracings);
@@ -468,20 +469,30 @@ export function preprocessDataset(
   return mutableDataset as StoreDataset;
 }
 
-function initializeDataset(initialFetch: boolean, dataset: StoreDataset): void {
+function assertUsableDataset(dataset: StoreDataset, initialCommandType: TraceOrViewCommand) {
   let error;
+  let annotationNote = "";
+  if (initialCommandType.type === ControlModeEnum.TRACE) {
+    annotationNote = `Failed to load annotation ${initialCommandType.annotationId}: `;
+  }
 
   if (!dataset) {
-    error = messages["dataset.does_not_exist"];
+    error = `${annotationNote}${messages["dataset.does_not_exist"]}`;
   } else if (!dataset.dataSource.dataLayers) {
-    error = `${messages["dataset.not_imported"]} '${dataset.name}'`;
+    let statusNote = ".";
+    if (dataset.dataSource.status) {
+      statusNote = `: ${dataset.dataSource.status}`;
+    }
+    error = `${annotationNote}Dataset ‘${dataset.name}’ (${dataset.id}) is not available${statusNote}`;
   }
 
   if (error) {
     Toast.error(error);
     throw HANDLED_ERROR;
   }
+}
 
+function initializeDataset(initialFetch: boolean, dataset: StoreDataset): void {
   // Make sure subsequent fetch calls are always for the same dataset
   if (!initialFetch) {
     ErrorHandling.assert(
diff --git a/unreleased_changes/8956.md b/unreleased_changes/8956.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..77dfaed3dab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/unreleased_changes/8956.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+### Changed
+- Improved the error message when loading an unusable dataset or an annotation for an unusable dataset