diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/chisel3/internal/firrtl/IR.scala b/core/src/main/scala/chisel3/internal/firrtl/IR.scala
index 105ae4feccc..64e15f5d384 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/chisel3/internal/firrtl/IR.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/chisel3/internal/firrtl/IR.scala
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ sealed case class UnknownWidth() extends Width {
 }
 
 sealed case class KnownWidth(value: Int) extends Width {
-  require(value >= 0)
+  require(value >= 0, s"Widths must be non-negative, got $value")
   def known: Boolean = true
   def get:   Int = value
   def op(that: Width, f: (W, W) => W): Width = that match {
diff --git a/src/test/scala/chiselTests/UIntOps.scala b/src/test/scala/chiselTests/UIntOps.scala
index 5d6bd8ccca9..73fbf5f33bb 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/chiselTests/UIntOps.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/chiselTests/UIntOps.scala
@@ -479,4 +479,9 @@ class UIntOpsSpec extends ChiselPropSpec with Matchers with Utils {
     chirrtl should include("y <= a")
     chirrtl should include("z <= b")
   }
+
+  property("UInts with negative widths should have a decent error message") {
+    val e = the[IllegalArgumentException] thrownBy (UInt(-8.W))
+    e.getMessage should include("Widths must be non-negative, got -8")
+  }
 }