diff --git a/src/super_gradients/training/sg_trainer/sg_trainer.py b/src/super_gradients/training/sg_trainer/sg_trainer.py
index c04df5db63..a6017c646e 100755
--- a/src/super_gradients/training/sg_trainer/sg_trainer.py
+++ b/src/super_gradients/training/sg_trainer/sg_trainer.py
@@ -557,11 +557,15 @@ def _init_monitored_items(self):
 
         # make sure the metric_to_watch is an exact match
         metric_titles = self.loss_logging_items_names + get_metrics_titles(self.valid_metrics)
-        metric_to_watch_idx = fuzzy_idx_in_list(self.metric_to_watch, metric_titles)
+        try:
+            metric_to_watch_idx = fuzzy_idx_in_list(self.metric_to_watch, metric_titles)
+        except IndexError:
+            raise ValueError(f"No match found for `metric_to_watch={self.metric_to_watch}`. Available metrics to monitor are: `{metric_titles}`.")
+
         metric_to_watch = metric_titles[metric_to_watch_idx]
         if metric_to_watch != self.metric_to_watch:
             logger.warning(
-                f"No exact match found for `metric_to_watch={self.metric_to_watch}`. It should be one of {metric_titles}. \n"
+                f"No exact match found for `metric_to_watch={self.metric_to_watch}`. Available metrics to monitor are: `{metric_titles}`. \n"
                 f"`metric_to_watch={metric_to_watch} will be used instead.`"
             )
             self.metric_to_watch = metric_to_watch
diff --git a/src/super_gradients/training/utils/utils.py b/src/super_gradients/training/utils/utils.py
index 3de562e43c..48f7545227 100755
--- a/src/super_gradients/training/utils/utils.py
+++ b/src/super_gradients/training/utils/utils.py
@@ -291,7 +291,12 @@ def fuzzy_idx_in_list(name: str, lst: List[str]) -> int:
     :param lst: List[str], the list as described above.
     :return: int, index of name in lst in the matter discussed above.
     """
-    return [fuzzy_str(x) for x in lst].index(fuzzy_str(name))
+    fuzzy_name = fuzzy_str(name)
+    fuzzy_list = [fuzzy_str(x) for x in lst]
+    if fuzzy_name in fuzzy_list:
+        return fuzzy_list.index(fuzzy_name)
+    else:
+        raise IndexError(f"Value `{name}` not found in the list `{lst}`. Please check the spelling.")
 
 
 def get_param(params, name, default_val=None):