--- src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/MacroInstance.java	2004-01-28 17:39:58.000000000 -0600
+++ src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/MacroInstance.java	2004-01-28 17:00:20.000000000 -0600
@@ -298,9 +298,13 @@ 
                 Element element = (Element) presentElements.get(tag);
                 if (element == null) {
                     if (!templateElement.isOptional()) {
-                        throw new BuildException(
-                            "Required nested element "
-                            + templateElement.getName() + " missing");
+                        String msg = "Required nested element "
+                            + templateElement.getName() + " missing";
+                        if (templateElement.getDescription() != null) {
+                            msg+= "; description=\""
+                                + templateElement.getDescription() + "\"";
+                        }
+                        throw new BuildException(msg);
                     }
                     continue;
                 }
@@ -332,8 +336,12 @@ 
                 value = macroSubs(value, localProperties);
             }
             if (value == null) {
-                throw new BuildException(
-                    "required attribute " + attribute.getName() + " not set");
+                String msg = "Required attribute "
+                    + attribute.getName() + " not set";
+                if (attribute.getDescription() != null) {
+                    msg+= "; description=\"" + attribute.getDescription() + "\"";
+                }
+                throw new BuildException(msg);
             }
             localProperties.put(attribute.getName(), value);
             copyKeys.remove(attribute.getName());