diff --git a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/get.rs b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/get.rs
index d8a8230891..6f38df402f 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/get.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/get.rs
@@ -176,12 +176,7 @@ fn errors_fetching_by_column_using_a_number() {
             "#
         ));
 
-        assert!(actual
-            .err
-            .contains("Data cannot be accessed with a cell path"),);
-        assert!(actual
-            .err
-            .contains("record<0: string> doesn't support cell paths"),);
+        assert!(actual.err.contains("Type mismatch"),);
     })
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/shell_error.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/shell_error.rs
index 039d339581..0f50e7d60f 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/shell_error.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/shell_error.rs
@@ -60,6 +60,19 @@ pub enum ShellError {
     #[diagnostic(code(nu::shell::type_mismatch), url(docsrs))]
     TypeMismatch(String, #[label = "needs {0}"] Span),
 
+    /// A command received an argument of the wrong type.
+    ///
+    /// ## Resolution
+    ///
+    /// Convert the argument type before passing it in, or change the command to accept the type.
+    #[error("Type mismatch")]
+    #[diagnostic(code(nu::shell::type_mismatch), url(docsrs))]
+    TypeMismatchGenericMessage {
+        err_message: String,
+        #[label = "{err_message}"]
+        span: Span,
+    },
+
     /// This value cannot be used with this operator.
     ///
     /// ## Resolution
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/mod.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/mod.rs
index 4651d0fa2e..79f6554daa 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/mod.rs
@@ -666,10 +666,9 @@ impl Value {
                             current = val.follow_path_int(*count, *origin_span)?;
                         }
                         x => {
-                            return Err(ShellError::IncompatiblePathAccess(
-                                format!("{}", x.get_type()),
-                                *origin_span,
-                            ))
+                            return Err(ShellError::TypeMismatchGenericMessage {
+                                err_message: format!("Can't access {} values with a row index. Try specifying a column name instead", x.get_type().to_shape()),
+                                span: *origin_span, })
                         }
                     }
                 }