diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/bulk/BulkShardRequest.java b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/bulk/BulkShardRequest.java
index d53e9f8997e..c270c51ea38 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/bulk/BulkShardRequest.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/bulk/BulkShardRequest.java
@@ -85,8 +85,14 @@ public class BulkShardRequest extends ReplicatedWriteRequest<BulkShardRequest> {
     @Override
     public String toString() {
         // This is included in error messages so we'll try to make it somewhat user friendly.
-        StringBuilder b = new StringBuilder("BulkShardRequest to [");
-        b.append(index).append("] containing [").append(items.length).append("] requests");
+        StringBuilder b = new StringBuilder("BulkShardRequest [");
+        b.append(shardId).append("] containing [");
+        if (items.length > 1) {
+          b.append(items.length).append("] requests");
+        } else {
+            b.append(items[0].request()).append("]");
+        }
+
         switch (getRefreshPolicy()) {
         case IMMEDIATE:
             b.append(" and a refresh");