diff --git a/fpdf/table.py b/fpdf/table.py
index 88a75ea78..726b81b33 100644
--- a/fpdf/table.py
+++ b/fpdf/table.py
@@ -122,10 +122,12 @@ def render(self):
                     )
         if self.rows:
             cols_count = self.rows[0].cols_count
-            for i, row in enumerate(self.rows[1:], start=1):
+            for i, row in enumerate(self.rows[1:], start=2):
                 if row.cols_count != cols_count:
                     raise FPDFException(
-                        f"Inconsistent column count detected on row {i}"
+                        f"Inconsistent column count detected on row {i}:"
+                        f" it has {row.cols_count} columns,"
+                        f" whereas the top row has {cols_count}."
                     )
         # Defining table global horizontal position:
         prev_l_margin = self._fpdf.l_margin