diff --git a/pandas/core/index.py b/pandas/core/index.py
index 1e4d6347aaeec..9638da8f418cf 100644
--- a/pandas/core/index.py
+++ b/pandas/core/index.py
@@ -1364,9 +1364,10 @@ def _get_level_number(self, level):
                 raise Exception('Level %s not found' % str(level))
             elif level < 0:
                 level += self.nlevels
+            # Note: levels are zero-based
             elif level >= self.nlevels:
                 raise ValueError('Index has only %d levels, not %d'
-                                 % (self.nlevels, level))
+                                 % (self.nlevels, level + 1))
         return level
 
     _tuples = None