diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 9a7f8776b..41f25c56e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 ## [Unreleased]
 
 ### Added
+- Improved error message for Strings as CLI arguments - [#1492](https://github.com/paritytech/cargo-contract/pull/1492)
 - Add a user-friendly view of contract storage data in the form of a table - [#1414](https://github.com/paritytech/cargo-contract/pull/1414)
 - Add `rpc` command - [#1458](https://github.com/paritytech/cargo-contract/pull/1458)
 
diff --git a/crates/transcode/src/encode.rs b/crates/transcode/src/encode.rs
index 32bbf4cec..709e47d09 100644
--- a/crates/transcode/src/encode.rs
+++ b/crates/transcode/src/encode.rs
@@ -284,7 +284,9 @@ impl<'a> Encoder<'a> {
                     s.encode_to(output);
                     Ok(())
                 } else {
-                    Err(anyhow::anyhow!("Expected a String value"))
+                    Err(anyhow::anyhow!("Expected a String value\n\
+                    On the command-line, String values need to be wrapped in escaped quotes: \
+                    \\\"…\\\"."))
                 }
             }
             TypeDefPrimitive::U8 => encode_uint::<u8, O>(value, "u8", output),