diff --git a/synapse/handlers/message.py b/synapse/handlers/message.py
index 4c74ce3eff395d51826f5bdcebdc70f6be0c23dd..4aeb2089f58eb48fd52bd0e7b18c81ed23479422 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/message.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/message.py
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ class MessageHandler(BaseRoomHandler):
         """
         # TODO(paul): Why does 'event' not have a 'user' object?
         user = self.hs.parse_userid(event.user_id)
-        assert(user.is_mine)
+        assert user.is_mine, "User must be our own: %s" % (user,)
 
         if stamp_event:
             event.content["hsob_ts"] = int(self.clock.time_msec())