diff --git a/agent/peering_endpoint.go b/agent/peering_endpoint.go
index 3032422925..54cb0c37a8 100644
--- a/agent/peering_endpoint.go
+++ b/agent/peering_endpoint.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func (s *HTTPHandlers) peeringRead(resp http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request,
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	if result.Peering == nil {
-		return nil, HTTPError{StatusCode: http.StatusNotFound}
+		return nil, HTTPError{StatusCode: http.StatusNotFound, Reason: fmt.Sprintf("Peering not found for %q", name)}
 	}
 
 	// TODO(peering): replace with API types
diff --git a/agent/peering_endpoint_test.go b/agent/peering_endpoint_test.go
index 345fac9e8e..fb441d136a 100644
--- a/agent/peering_endpoint_test.go
+++ b/agent/peering_endpoint_test.go
@@ -292,6 +292,7 @@ func TestHTTP_Peering_Read(t *testing.T) {
 		resp := httptest.NewRecorder()
 		a.srv.h.ServeHTTP(resp, req)
 		require.Equal(t, http.StatusNotFound, resp.Code)
+		require.Equal(t, "Peering not found for \"baz\"", resp.Body.String())
 	})
 }