diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/pivot.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/pivot.rs
index 5277ff98a..05acb4170 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/pivot.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/pivot.rs
@@ -764,11 +764,13 @@ fn show_details(s: &mut Session, p: &Json) -> Result<Json> {
         .find(|pt| pt.last_range.is_some_and(|r| r.contains(at)))
         .ok_or_else(|| EngineError::Disabled("pivot.showDetails".into(), pv::NOT_A_VALUE_CELL.into()))?;
     let origin = pt.last_range.map(|r| r.start).unwrap_or_default();
-    let found = pv::detail_records(&d.wb, pt, active, at.row.saturating_sub(origin.row), at.col.saturating_sub(origin.col)).map_err(other)?;
-    let (src, records) = found.ok_or_else(|| EngineError::Disabled("pivot.showDetails".into(), pv::NOT_A_VALUE_CELL.into()))?;
-    if !pt.enable_show_details {
+    let found = pv::detail_records(&d.wb, pt, active, at.row.saturating_sub(origin.row), at.col.saturating_sub(origin.col));
+    // With the option off, a report that is out of date or a source that cannot be read is
+    // reported as the option; only a cell that is not a value cell keeps its own message.
+    if !pt.enable_show_details && !matches!(found, Ok(None)) {
         return Err(other(SHOW_DETAILS_OFF));
     }
+    let (src, records) = found.map_err(other)?.ok_or_else(|| EngineError::Disabled("pivot.showDetails".into(), pv::NOT_A_VALUE_CELL.into()))?;
     if d.wb.protected_structure {
         return Err(other("The workbook is protected and cannot be changed."));
     }
@@ -837,7 +839,7 @@ fn show_details(s: &mut Session, p: &Json) -> Result<Json> {
 }
 
 /// The message Show Details gives while Enable show details is off.
-const SHOW_DETAILS_OFF: &str = "Show Details is turned off for this PivotTable. Turn on Enable show details in PivotTable Options.";
+const SHOW_DETAILS_OFF: &str = "Show Details is turned off for this PivotTable. Turn it on with pivot.options and enableShowDetails set to true.";
 
 /// PivotTable Options: Enable show details (Data). Changes only the option; the report is not
 /// refreshed. Without params it returns the current setting.
@@ -2629,11 +2631,11 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!pt(&s).enable_show_details);
         assert_eq!(s.execute("pivot.fields", json!({})).unwrap()["enableShowDetails"], false);
         let e = s.execute("pivot.showDetails", json!({"cell": "B5"})).unwrap_err().to_string();
-        assert!(e.contains("Enable show details"), "{e}");
+        assert!(e.contains("turned off") && e.contains("pivot.options") && e.contains("enableShowDetails"), "{e}");
         assert_eq!(s.doc().unwrap().wb.sheets.len(), 2);
         // A label still reports that it is not a value cell.
         let e = s.execute("pivot.showDetails", json!({"cell": "A5"})).unwrap_err().to_string();
-        assert!(!e.contains("Enable show details"), "{e}");
+        assert!(!e.contains("turned off"), "{e}");
         // Setting the same value again adds no undo step.
         let after = s.doc().unwrap().revision;
         s.execute("pivot.options", json!({"enableShowDetails": false})).unwrap();
@@ -2644,4 +2646,16 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(pt(&s).enable_show_details);
         assert_eq!(s.execute("pivot.showDetails", json!({"cell": "B5"})).unwrap()["records"], 2);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn enable_show_details_off_is_reported_before_an_out_of_date_report() {
+        let mut s = sales();
+        s.execute("insert.pivotTable", json!({"rows": ["Region"], "columns": ["Product"], "values": ["Sales"]})).unwrap();
+        s.execute("pivot.options", json!({"enableShowDetails": false})).unwrap();
+        // The source changes after the report was written, so the report is out of date.
+        s.execute("range.setValues", json!({"range": "Sheet1!A2", "values": [["Central"]]})).unwrap();
+        let e = s.execute("pivot.showDetails", json!({"cell": "B5"})).unwrap_err().to_string();
+        assert!(e.contains("turned off") && !e.contains("out of date"), "{e}");
+        assert_eq!(s.doc().unwrap().wb.sheets.len(), 2);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/pivot_show_details.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/pivot_show_details.rs
index 6300a719f..959eea0f6 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/pivot_show_details.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/pivot_show_details.rs
@@ -116,6 +116,6 @@ fn double_click_with_enable_show_details_off_says_why_and_does_not_edit() {
 
     let app = h.state();
     assert!(app.editor.is_none(), "the value cell must not open for editing");
-    assert!(app.message.as_ref().is_some_and(|(_, m)| m.contains("Enable show details")), "{:?}", app.message);
+    assert!(app.message.as_ref().is_some_and(|(_, m)| m.contains("enableShowDetails")), "{:?}", app.message);
     assert_eq!(app.session.active().unwrap().wb.sheets.len(), 1);
 }