diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/package_base.py b/lib/spack/spack/package_base.py
index 0be36f08ea..7c17c7d02e 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/package_base.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/package_base.py
@@ -2555,7 +2555,12 @@ class PackageStillNeededError(InstallError):
     """Raised when package is still needed by another on uninstall."""
 
     def __init__(self, spec, dependents):
-        super().__init__("Cannot uninstall %s" % spec)
+        spec_fmt = spack.spec.DEFAULT_FORMAT + " /{hash:7}"
+        dep_fmt = "{name}{@versions} /{hash:7}"
+        super().__init__(
+            f"Cannot uninstall {spec.format(spec_fmt)}, "
+            f"needed by {[dep.format(dep_fmt) for dep in dependents]}"
+        )
         self.spec = spec
         self.dependents = dependents