diff --git a/src/libslic3r/Preset.cpp b/src/libslic3r/Preset.cpp
index 32ba6ca594..a6fa1d8522 100644
--- a/src/libslic3r/Preset.cpp
+++ b/src/libslic3r/Preset.cpp
@@ -1624,6 +1624,7 @@ void PresetCollection::reset(bool delete_files)
     unlock();
     m_map_alias_to_profile_name.clear();
     m_map_system_profile_renamed.clear();
+    m_unresolved_parents.clear();
 }
 
 void PresetCollection::add_default_preset(const std::vector<std::string> &keys, const Slic3r::StaticPrintConfig &defaults, const std::string &preset_name)
@@ -1875,6 +1876,7 @@ void PresetCollection::load_presets(
         if (presets_loaded.empty()) {
             for (const auto &entry : deferred) {
                 BOOST_LOG_TRIVIAL(error) << boost::format("can not find parent %1% for config %2%!")%entry.second %entry.first.string();
+                m_unresolved_parents[entry.first.string()] = entry.second;
                 ++m_errors;
             }
             break;
@@ -3345,6 +3347,16 @@ Preset* PresetCollection::find_preset(const std::string &name, bool first_visibl
     return first_visible_if_not_found ? &this->first_visible() : nullptr;
 }
 
+std::string PresetCollection::unresolved_parent(const boost::filesystem::path &file) const
+{
+    for (const auto &[dropped_file, parent] : m_unresolved_parents) {
+        boost::system::error_code ec;
+        if (boost::filesystem::equivalent(file, boost::filesystem::path(dropped_file), ec) && !ec)
+            return parent;
+    }
+    return {};
+}
+
 Preset* PresetCollection::find_preset2(const std::string& name, bool auto_match/* = true */)
 {
     auto preset = find_preset(name, false, true);
diff --git a/src/libslic3r/Preset.hpp b/src/libslic3r/Preset.hpp
index 6a7871d07d..86260d3432 100644
--- a/src/libslic3r/Preset.hpp
+++ b/src/libslic3r/Preset.hpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #define slic3r_Preset_hpp_
 
 #include <deque>
+#include <map>
 #include <set>
 #include <string>
 #include <unordered_map>
@@ -728,6 +729,9 @@ public:
     {
         return const_cast<PresetCollection*>(this)->find_preset2(name, auto_match);
     }
+    // Name of the parent that kept the preset file from loading, or empty if the file loaded
+    // (or was never seen). Lets a caller that fails to find a preset explain why it is missing.
+    std::string unresolved_parent(const boost::filesystem::path &file) const;
     
     size_t first_visible_idx() const;
     // Return the index of the first visible, compatible, system base preset
@@ -965,6 +969,8 @@ private:
 
     // Orca: used for validation only
     int m_errors = 0;
+    // Preset files dropped by load_presets() because their parent does not exist, keyed by file path.
+    std::map<std::string, std::string> m_unresolved_parents;
 };
 
 // Printer supports the FFF and SLA technologies, with different set of configuration values,
diff --git a/src/libslic3r/PresetBundle.cpp b/src/libslic3r/PresetBundle.cpp
index f17fd5c768..4d4fc1b9be 100644
--- a/src/libslic3r/PresetBundle.cpp
+++ b/src/libslic3r/PresetBundle.cpp
@@ -506,6 +506,11 @@ bool PresetBundle::resolve_preset_config(DynamicPrintConfig &config, Preset::Typ
     }
     if (error == "Preset identity is ambiguous")
         return false;
+    // The file was seen but dropped at load time; say so rather than reporting it as unknown.
+    if (const std::string parent = collection->unresolved_parent(source_path); !parent.empty()) {
+        error = "Preset was not loaded because its parent preset \"" + parent + "\" was not found";
+        return false;
+    }
     if (!allow_source_manifest) {
         error = "Preset was not found in the loaded bundle";
         return false;
diff --git a/tests/libslic3r/test_preset_bundle_loading.cpp b/tests/libslic3r/test_preset_bundle_loading.cpp
index 18f2b5ac9f..bc797997e2 100644
--- a/tests/libslic3r/test_preset_bundle_loading.cpp
+++ b/tests/libslic3r/test_preset_bundle_loading.cpp
@@ -411,8 +411,8 @@ TEST_CASE("A preset whose parent exists nowhere is reported, not loaded", "[Pres
     ScopedTemporaryDir temp_dir;
     PresetBundle       bundle;
 
-    write_sparse_preset(temp_dir.path() / PRESET_PRINT_NAME / "Orphan.json", "Orphan", "No Such Parent",
-                        {{"layer_height", "0.15"}});
+    const fs::path orphan_file = temp_dir.path() / PRESET_PRINT_NAME / "Orphan.json";
+    write_sparse_preset(orphan_file, "Orphan", "No Such Parent", {{"layer_height", "0.15"}});
 
     PresetsConfigSubstitutions substitutions;
     bundle.prints.load_presets(temp_dir.path().string(), PRESET_PRINT_NAME, substitutions,
@@ -420,6 +420,14 @@ TEST_CASE("A preset whose parent exists nowhere is reported, not loaded", "[Pres
 
     CHECK(bundle.prints.find_preset("Orphan") == nullptr);
     CHECK(bundle.has_errors());
+    CHECK(bundle.prints.unresolved_parent(orphan_file) == "No Such Parent");
+
+    // Resolving the dropped file names the missing parent instead of reporting the file as unknown.
+    DynamicPrintConfig config;
+    std::string        error;
+    CHECK_FALSE(bundle.resolve_preset_config(config, Preset::TYPE_PRINT, orphan_file.string(),
+                                             ForwardCompatibilitySubstitutionRule::Disable, error, false));
+    CHECK(error == "Preset was not loaded because its parent preset \"No Such Parent\" was not found");
 }
 
 TEST_CASE("Presets inheriting each other in a cycle are reported, not loaded", "[Preset][Inherits][Regression]")