diff --git a/news/2358.bugfix.md b/news/2358.bugfix.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..75ce4f75c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/2358.bugfix.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Improve the error message when a specific package can't be found in the lockfile.
diff --git a/src/pdm/models/repositories.py b/src/pdm/models/repositories.py
index 6fd07fbc36..70374e342e 100644
--- a/src/pdm/models/repositories.py
+++ b/src/pdm/models/repositories.py
@@ -552,7 +552,14 @@ def _identify_candidate(self, candidate: Candidate) -> CandidateKey:
         )
 
     def _get_dependencies_from_lockfile(self, candidate: Candidate) -> CandidateInfo:
-        return self.candidate_info[self._identify_candidate(candidate)]
+        err = (
+            f"Missing package {candidate.identify()} from the lockfile, "
+            "the lockfile may be broken. Run `pdm update` to fix it."
+        )
+        try:
+            return self.candidate_info[self._identify_candidate(candidate)]
+        except KeyError as e:  # pragma: no cover
+            raise CandidateNotFound(err) from e
 
     def dependency_generators(self) -> Iterable[Callable[[Candidate], CandidateInfo]]:
         return (