diff --git a/libs/astradb/langchain_astradb/graph_vectorstores.py b/libs/astradb/langchain_astradb/graph_vectorstores.py
index 69ebd44..322793d 100644
--- a/libs/astradb/langchain_astradb/graph_vectorstores.py
+++ b/libs/astradb/langchain_astradb/graph_vectorstores.py
@@ -342,14 +342,19 @@ def __init__(
             test_vs.metadata_search(
                 filter={self.metadata_incoming_links_key: "test"}, n=1
             )
-        except BaseException as exp:
+        except ValueError as exp:
             # determine if error is because of a un-indexed column. Ref:
             # https://docs.datastax.com/en/astra-db-serverless/api-reference/collections.html#considerations-for-selective-indexing
             error_message = str(exp).lower()
             if ("unindexed filter path" in error_message) or (
                 "incompatible with the requested indexing policy" in error_message
             ):
-                msg = "The collection configuration is incompatible with vector graph store. Please create a new collection."  # noqa: E501
+                msg = (
+                    "The collection configuration is incompatible with vector graph "
+                    "store. Please create a new collection and make sure the path "
+                    f"`{self.metadata_incoming_links_key}` is not excluded by indexing."
+                )
+
                 raise ValueError(msg) from exp
             raise exp  # noqa: TRY201
 
diff --git a/libs/astradb/tests/integration_tests/test_upgrade_to_graphvectorstore.py b/libs/astradb/tests/integration_tests/test_upgrade_to_graphvectorstore.py
index 5238f0b..3164513 100644
--- a/libs/astradb/tests/integration_tests/test_upgrade_to_graphvectorstore.py
+++ b/libs/astradb/tests/integration_tests/test_upgrade_to_graphvectorstore.py
@@ -232,7 +232,11 @@ def test_upgrade_to_gvs_failure_sync(
         assert v_doc is not None
         assert v_doc.page_content == doc_al.page_content
 
-        expected_msg = "The collection configuration is incompatible with vector graph store. Please create a new collection."  # noqa: E501
+        expected_msg = (
+            "The collection configuration is incompatible with vector graph "
+            "store. Please create a new collection and make sure the path "
+            "`incoming_links` is not excluded by indexing."
+        )
         with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=expected_msg):
             # Create a GRAPH Vector Store using the existing collection from above
             # with setup_mode=gvs_setup_mode and indexing_policy=gvs_indexing_policy
@@ -294,7 +298,11 @@ async def test_upgrade_to_gvs_failure_async(
         assert v_doc is not None
         assert v_doc.page_content == doc_al.page_content
 
-        expected_msg = "The collection configuration is incompatible with vector graph store. Please create a new collection."  # noqa: E501
+        expected_msg = (
+            "The collection configuration is incompatible with vector graph "
+            "store. Please create a new collection and make sure the path "
+            "`incoming_links` is not excluded by indexing."
+        )
         with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=expected_msg):
             # Create a GRAPH Vector Store using the existing collection from above
             # with setup_mode=gvs_setup_mode and indexing_policy=gvs_indexing_policy