diff --git a/lib/core/nav/HeaderNav.js b/lib/core/nav/HeaderNav.js
index 75b0e0f9fb..9276b3d910 100644
--- a/lib/core/nav/HeaderNav.js
+++ b/lib/core/nav/HeaderNav.js
@@ -136,6 +136,13 @@ class HeaderNav extends React.Component {
           link.doc;
       }
       if (!Metadata[id]) {
+        if (id != link.doc) {
+          throw new Error(
+            "It looks like you've enabled language support, but haven't provided translated files. The document with id: '" +
+              id +
+              "' doesn't exist."
+          );
+        }
         throw new Error(
           "A headerLink is specified with a document that does not exist. No document exists with id: " +
             link.doc