diff --git a/src/xfel_calibrate/validate_nbs_config.py b/src/xfel_calibrate/validate_nbs_config.py
index 67881e2a3a13220270c6632b804f7a6cc870201a..ff949658ff0b16e9c9a732a4484fd1e5f471cc6c 100644
--- a/src/xfel_calibrate/validate_nbs_config.py
+++ b/src/xfel_calibrate/validate_nbs_config.py
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ def check_yaml_file(path: Path, config_dir: Path, nb_params, detectors):
                     elif not like_type(v, param.type):
                         config_problem(
                             "Type differs from default in notebook",
-                            f"notebook: {param.type}, config: {type(v)}",
+                            f"notebook: {param.value!r}, config: {v!r}",
                             rel_path, (action, instrument, kid, k)
                         )