diff --git a/src/cargo/core/compiler/context/mod.rs b/src/cargo/core/compiler/context/mod.rs
index 8a485db7c5a..bbce7ba377b 100644
--- a/src/cargo/core/compiler/context/mod.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/core/compiler/context/mod.rs
@@ -580,10 +580,19 @@ impl Links {
             let pkg = unit.pkg.package_id();
 
             let describe_path = |pkgid: PackageId| -> String {
-                let dep_path = resolve.path_to_top(&pkgid);
-                let mut dep_path_desc = format!("package `{}`", dep_path[0]);
-                for dep in dep_path.iter().skip(1) {
-                    write!(dep_path_desc, "\n    ... which is depended on by `{}`", dep).unwrap();
+                let dep_path = resolve.graph().path_to_top(&pkgid);
+                let mut dep_path_desc = format!("package `{}`", pkgid);
+                for &(dep, req) in dep_path.iter() {
+                    let req = req.first().unwrap();
+                    write!(
+                        dep_path_desc,
+                        "\n    ... selected to satisfy the requirement \
+                         `{} = \"{}\"` from package `{}`",
+                        req.name_in_toml(),
+                        req.version_req(),
+                        dep
+                    )
+                    .unwrap();
                 }
                 dep_path_desc
             };
diff --git a/src/cargo/core/resolver/errors.rs b/src/cargo/core/resolver/errors.rs
index 217523e8655..416e21b1eae 100644
--- a/src/cargo/core/resolver/errors.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/core/resolver/errors.rs
@@ -81,9 +81,14 @@ pub(super) fn activation_error(
     let to_resolve_err = |err| {
         ResolveError::new(
             err,
-            graph
-                .path_to_top(&parent.package_id())
-                .into_iter()
+            Some(parent.package_id())
+                .iter()
+                .chain(
+                    graph
+                        .path_to_top(&parent.package_id())
+                        .into_iter()
+                        .map(|x| x.0),
+                )
                 .cloned()
                 .collect(),
         )
@@ -92,7 +97,11 @@ pub(super) fn activation_error(
     if !candidates.is_empty() {
         let mut msg = format!("failed to select a version for `{}`.", dep.package_name());
         msg.push_str("\n    ... required by ");
-        msg.push_str(&describe_path(&graph.path_to_top(&parent.package_id())));
+        msg.push_str(&describe_path(&graph, parent.package_id()));
+        msg.push_str("which requires ");
+        msg.push_str(&dep.package_name());
+        msg.push_str(" ");
+        msg.push_str(&dep.version_req().to_string());
 
         msg.push_str("\nversions that meet the requirements `");
         msg.push_str(&dep.version_req().to_string());
@@ -113,7 +122,7 @@ pub(super) fn activation_error(
             .rev()
             .partition(|&(_, r)| r.is_links());
 
-        for &(p, r) in links_errors.iter() {
+        for &(&p, r) in links_errors.iter() {
             if let ConflictReason::Links(ref link) = *r {
                 msg.push_str("\n\nthe package `");
                 msg.push_str(&*dep.package_name());
@@ -123,7 +132,7 @@ pub(super) fn activation_error(
                 msg.push_str(link);
                 msg.push_str("` as well:\n");
             }
-            msg.push_str(&describe_path(&graph.path_to_top(p)));
+            msg.push_str(&describe_path(&graph, p));
         }
 
         let (features_errors, other_errors): (Vec<_>, Vec<_>) = other_errors
@@ -152,9 +161,9 @@ pub(super) fn activation_error(
             );
         }
 
-        for &(p, _) in other_errors.iter() {
+        for &(&p, _) in other_errors.iter() {
             msg.push_str("\n\n  previously selected ");
-            msg.push_str(&describe_path(&graph.path_to_top(p)));
+            msg.push_str(&describe_path(&graph, p));
         }
 
         msg.push_str("\n\nfailed to select a version for `");
@@ -204,7 +213,7 @@ pub(super) fn activation_error(
             registry.describe_source(dep.source_id()),
         );
         msg.push_str("required by ");
-        msg.push_str(&describe_path(&graph.path_to_top(&parent.package_id())));
+        msg.push_str(&describe_path(&graph, parent.package_id()));
 
         // If we have a path dependency with a locked version, then this may
         // indicate that we updated a sub-package and forgot to run `cargo
@@ -258,7 +267,7 @@ pub(super) fn activation_error(
             msg.push_str("\n");
         }
         msg.push_str("required by ");
-        msg.push_str(&describe_path(&graph.path_to_top(&parent.package_id())));
+        msg.push_str(&describe_path(&graph, parent.package_id()));
 
         msg
     };
@@ -278,11 +287,23 @@ pub(super) fn activation_error(
 }
 
 /// Returns String representation of dependency chain for a particular `pkgid`.
-pub(super) fn describe_path(path: &[&PackageId]) -> String {
+pub(super) fn describe_path(
+    graph: &crate::util::graph::Graph<PackageId, Vec<Dependency>>,
+    this: PackageId,
+) -> String {
     use std::fmt::Write;
-    let mut dep_path_desc = format!("package `{}`", path[0]);
-    for dep in path[1..].iter() {
-        write!(dep_path_desc, "\n    ... which is depended on by `{}`", dep).unwrap();
+    let path = &graph.path_to_top(&this);
+    let mut dep_path_desc = format!("package `{}`", this);
+    for &(dep, req) in path.iter() {
+        let req = req.first().unwrap();
+        write!(
+            dep_path_desc,
+            "\n    ... selected to satisfy the requirement `{} = \"{}\"` from package `{}`",
+            req.name_in_toml(),
+            req.version_req(),
+            dep
+        )
+        .unwrap();
     }
     dep_path_desc
 }
diff --git a/src/cargo/core/resolver/mod.rs b/src/cargo/core/resolver/mod.rs
index 9f753fc8eec..6ca9afbc52e 100644
--- a/src/cargo/core/resolver/mod.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/core/resolver/mod.rs
@@ -848,7 +848,7 @@ fn check_cycles(resolve: &Resolve, activations: &Activations) -> CargoResult<()>
             failure::bail!(
                 "cyclic package dependency: package `{}` depends on itself. Cycle:\n{}",
                 id,
-                errors::describe_path(&resolve.path_to_top(&id))
+                errors::describe_path(&resolve.graph(), id)
             );
         }
 
diff --git a/src/cargo/core/resolver/resolve.rs b/src/cargo/core/resolver/resolve.rs
index b3d990830c5..1b32499f9a5 100644
--- a/src/cargo/core/resolver/resolve.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/core/resolver/resolve.rs
@@ -54,12 +54,6 @@ impl Resolve {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Resolves one of the paths from the given dependent package up to
-    /// the root.
-    pub fn path_to_top<'a>(&'a self, pkg: &'a PackageId) -> Vec<&'a PackageId> {
-        self.graph.path_to_top(pkg)
-    }
-
     pub fn register_used_patches(&mut self, patches: &HashMap<Url, Vec<Summary>>) {
         for summary in patches.values().flat_map(|v| v) {
             if self.iter().any(|id| id == summary.package_id()) {
@@ -194,6 +188,10 @@ unable to verify that `{0}` is the same as when the lockfile was generated
         &self.replacements
     }
 
+    pub fn graph(&self) -> &Graph<PackageId, Vec<Dependency>> {
+        &self.graph
+    }
+
     pub fn features(&self, pkg: PackageId) -> &HashSet<String> {
         self.features.get(&pkg).unwrap_or(&self.empty_features)
     }
diff --git a/src/cargo/util/graph.rs b/src/cargo/util/graph.rs
index 48fc0a227f0..cca5ef9982b 100644
--- a/src/cargo/util/graph.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/util/graph.rs
@@ -72,23 +72,24 @@ impl<N: Eq + Hash + Clone, E: Default> Graph<N, E> {
 
     /// Resolves one of the paths from the given dependent package up to
     /// the root.
-    pub fn path_to_top<'a>(&'a self, mut pkg: &'a N) -> Vec<&'a N> {
+    pub fn path_to_top<'s: 'q, 'q>(&'s self, mut pkg: &'q N) -> Vec<(&'s N, &'s E)> {
         // Note that this implementation isn't the most robust per se, we'll
         // likely have to tweak this over time. For now though it works for what
         // it's used for!
-        let mut result = vec![pkg];
-        let first_pkg_depending_on = |pkg: &N, res: &[&N]| {
+        let mut result: Vec<(&'s N, &'s E)> = vec![];
+        let first_pkg_depending_on = |pkg: &N, res: &[(&'s N, &'s E)]| {
             self.nodes
                 .iter()
                 .filter(|&(_, adjacent)| adjacent.contains_key(pkg))
                 // Note that we can have "cycles" introduced through dev-dependency
                 // edges, so make sure we don't loop infinitely.
-                .find(|&(node, _)| !res.contains(&node))
-                .map(|p| p.0)
+                .find(|&(node, _)| res.iter().find(|p| p.0 == node).is_none())
+                // TODO: find_map would be clearer
+                .map(|(node, adjacent)| (node, adjacent.get(pkg).unwrap()))
         };
         while let Some(p) = first_pkg_depending_on(pkg, &result) {
             result.push(p);
-            pkg = p;
+            pkg = p.0;
         }
         result
     }
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/build.rs b/tests/testsuite/build.rs
index c89f7ba8fbc..d6dff2fc183 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/build.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/build.rs
@@ -1171,15 +1171,15 @@ fn incompatible_dependencies() {
         .with_stderr_contains(
             "\
 error: failed to select a version for `bad`.
-    ... required by package `qux v0.1.0`
-    ... which is depended on by `foo v0.0.1 ([..])`
+    ... required by package `qux v0.1.0` which requires `bad >=1.0.1`
+    ... selected to satisfy the requirement `qux = \"^0.1.0\"` from package `foo v0.0.1 ([..])`
 versions that meet the requirements `>= 1.0.1` are: 1.0.2, 1.0.1
 
 all possible versions conflict with previously selected packages.
 
   previously selected package `bad v1.0.0`
-    ... which is depended on by `baz v0.1.0`
-    ... which is depended on by `foo v0.0.1 ([..])`
+    ... selected to satisfy the requirement `bad = \"= 1.0.0\"` from package `baz v0.1.0`
+    ... selected to satisfy the requirement `baz = \"^0.1.0\"` from package `foo v0.0.1 ([..])`
 
 failed to select a version for `bad` which could resolve this conflict",
         )
@@ -1217,18 +1217,18 @@ fn incompatible_dependencies_with_multi_semver() {
         .with_stderr_contains(
             "\
 error: failed to select a version for `bad`.
-    ... required by package `foo v0.0.1 ([..])`
+    ... required by package `foo v0.0.1 ([..]) which requires `bad = >=1.0.1, <=2.0.0`
 versions that meet the requirements `>= 1.0.1, <= 2.0.0` are: 2.0.0, 1.0.1
 
 all possible versions conflict with previously selected packages.
 
   previously selected package `bad v2.0.1`
-    ... which is depended on by `baz v0.1.0`
-    ... which is depended on by `foo v0.0.1 ([..])`
+    ... selected to satisfy the requirement `bad = \">= 2.0.1\"` from package `baz v0.1.0`
+    ... selected to satisfy the requirement `baz = \"^0.1.0\"` from package `foo v0.0.1 ([..])`
 
   previously selected package `bad v1.0.0`
-    ... which is depended on by `bar v0.1.0`
-    ... which is depended on by `foo v0.0.1 ([..])`
+    ... selected to satisfy the requirement `bad = \"= 1.0.0\"` from package `bar v0.1.0`
+    ... selected to satisfy the requirement `bar = \"^0.1.0\"` from package `foo v0.0.1 ([..])`
 
 failed to select a version for `bad` which could resolve this conflict",
         )
@@ -1278,7 +1278,8 @@ fn compile_offline_while_transitive_dep_not_cached() {
 error: no matching package named `baz` found
 location searched: registry `[..]`
 required by package `bar v0.1.0`
-    ... which is depended on by `foo v0.0.1 ([CWD])`
+    ... selected to satisfy the requirement `bar = \"= 0.1.0\"` \
+from package `foo v0.0.1 ([CWD])`
 As a reminder, you're using offline mode (-Z offline) \
 which can sometimes cause surprising resolution failures, \
 if this error is too confusing you may with to retry \
@@ -1688,7 +1689,8 @@ fn self_dependency() {
         .with_stderr(
             "\
 [ERROR] cyclic package dependency: package `test v0.0.0 ([CWD])` depends on itself. Cycle:
-package `test v0.0.0 ([CWD])`",
+package `test v0.0.0 ([CWD])`
+    ... selected to satisfy the requirement `test = \"*\"` from package `test v0.0.0 ([..]foo)`",
         )
         .run();
 }
@@ -2798,7 +2800,8 @@ fn cyclic_deps_rejected() {
         .with_stderr(
 "[ERROR] cyclic package dependency: package `a v0.0.1 ([CWD]/a)` depends on itself. Cycle:
 package `a v0.0.1 ([CWD]/a)`
-    ... which is depended on by `foo v0.0.1 ([CWD])`",
+    ... selected to satisfy the requirement `a = \"*\"` from package `foo v0.0.1 ([..]foo)`
+    ... selected to satisfy the requirement `foo = \"*\"` from package `a v0.0.1 ([..]a)`",
         ).run();
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/build_script.rs b/tests/testsuite/build_script.rs
index 2ce7e5f0230..13924055bc4 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/build_script.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/build_script.rs
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ fn links_duplicates() {
     p.cargo("build").with_status(101)
                        .with_stderr("\
 error: failed to select a version for `a-sys`.
-    ... required by package `foo v0.5.0 ([..])`
+    ... required by package `foo v0.5.0 ([..]) which requires `
 versions that meet the requirements `*` are: 0.5.0
 
 the package `a-sys` links to the native library `a`, but it conflicts with a previous package which links to `a` as well:
@@ -378,8 +378,8 @@ fn links_duplicates_deep_dependency() {
     p.cargo("build").with_status(101)
                        .with_stderr("\
 error: failed to select a version for `a-sys`.
-    ... required by package `a v0.5.0 ([..])`
-    ... which is depended on by `foo v0.5.0 ([..])`
+    ... required by package `a v0.5.0 ([..]) which requires a-sys = *`
+    ... selected to fulfill the requirement `a = \"*\"` from package `foo v0.5.0 ([..])`
 versions that meet the requirements `*` are: 0.5.0
 
 the package `a-sys` links to the native library `a`, but it conflicts with a previous package which links to `a` as well:
@@ -3411,7 +3411,7 @@ fn links_duplicates_with_cycle() {
     p.cargo("build").with_status(101)
                        .with_stderr("\
 error: failed to select a version for `a`.
-    ... required by package `foo v0.5.0 ([..])`
+    ... required by package `foo v0.5.0 ([..])` which requires `a-sys *`
 versions that meet the requirements `*` are: 0.5.0
 
 the package `a` links to the native library `a`, but it conflicts with a previous package which links to `a` as well:
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/features.rs b/tests/testsuite/features.rs
index 7b0386723df..a6a7629c733 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/features.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/features.rs
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ fn invalid4() {
         .with_stderr(
             "\
 error: failed to select a version for `bar`.
-    ... required by package `foo v0.0.1 ([..])`
+    ... required by package `foo v0.0.1 ([..])` which requires bar *
 versions that meet the requirements `*` are: 0.0.1
 
 the package `foo` depends on `bar`, with features: `bar` but `bar` does not have these features.
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/registry.rs b/tests/testsuite/registry.rs
index 6383007254a..b4de8e6a368 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/registry.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/registry.rs
@@ -553,7 +553,7 @@ error: failed to select a version for the requirement `baz = \"= 0.0.2\"`
   candidate versions found which didn't match: 0.0.1
   location searched: `[..]` index (which is replacing registry `[..]`)
 required by package `bar v0.0.1`
-    ... which is depended on by `foo [..]`
+    ... which is depended on by `foo [..] which requires bar = *`
 ",
         )
         .run();