diff --git a/pandas/io/pytables.py b/pandas/io/pytables.py
index 07e9abeaadbb4..965b87d8044ed 100644
--- a/pandas/io/pytables.py
+++ b/pandas/io/pytables.py
@@ -398,8 +398,8 @@ def __init__(self, path, mode=None, complevel=None, complib=None,
                  fletcher32=False, **kwargs):
         try:
             import tables
-        except ImportError:  # pragma: no cover
-            raise ImportError('HDFStore requires PyTables')
+        except ImportError as ex:  # pragma: no cover
+            raise ImportError('HDFStore requires PyTables, "{ex}" problem importing'.format(ex=str(ex)))
 
         self._path = path
         if mode is None: