diff --git a/src/cargo/ops/cargo_update.rs b/src/cargo/ops/cargo_update.rs
index 3b72a93582e9..95d7b35172f3 100644
--- a/src/cargo/ops/cargo_update.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/ops/cargo_update.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ use crate::util::toml_mut::manifest::LocalManifest;
 use crate::util::toml_mut::upgrade::upgrade_requirement;
 use crate::util::{style, OptVersionReq};
 use crate::util::{CargoResult, VersionExt};
+use anyhow::Context as _;
 use itertools::Itertools;
 use semver::{Op, Version, VersionReq};
 use std::cmp::Ordering;
@@ -269,7 +270,10 @@ pub fn upgrade_manifests(
 
     let to_update = to_update
         .iter()
-        .map(|s| PackageIdSpec::parse(s))
+        .map(|spec| {
+            PackageIdSpec::parse(spec)
+                .with_context(|| format!("invalid package ID specification: `{spec}`"))
+        })
         .collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()?;
 
     // Updates often require a lot of modifications to the registry, so ensure
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/update.rs b/tests/testsuite/update.rs
index a8b7bf3a45f4..366243a6ffb9 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/update.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/update.rs
@@ -2269,7 +2269,10 @@ fn update_breaking_spec_version() {
         .masquerade_as_nightly_cargo(&["update-breaking"])
         .with_status(101)
         .with_stderr_data(str![[r#"
-[ERROR] expected a version like "1.32"
+[ERROR] invalid package ID specification: `incompatible@foo`
+
+Caused by:
+  expected a version like "1.32"
 
 "#]])
         .run();