diff --git a/lamindb/models/artifact.py b/lamindb/models/artifact.py
index 4994c893e..9557abdce 100644
--- a/lamindb/models/artifact.py
+++ b/lamindb/models/artifact.py
@@ -223,7 +223,10 @@ def process_pathlike(
     if not skip_existence_check:
         try:  # check if file exists
             if not filepath.exists():
-                raise FileNotFoundError(filepath)
+                hint = ""
+                if Artifact.filter(uid=filepath.name).first() is not None:
+                    hint = f', did you mean Artifact.get("{filepath.name}")?'
+                raise FileNotFoundError(str(filepath) + hint)
         except PermissionError:
             pass
     if _s().check_path_is_child_of_root(filepath, storage.root):
diff --git a/tests/core/test_artifact_basics.py b/tests/core/test_artifact_basics.py
index 0fc3b5612..b5e1ae276 100644
--- a/tests/core/test_artifact_basics.py
+++ b/tests/core/test_artifact_basics.py
@@ -95,6 +95,21 @@ def test_basic_validation():
         == f"ValueError: Do not pass path inside the `{AUTO_KEY_PREFIX}` directory for non-s3/gs paths."
     )
 
+    # path whose name is an existing artifact uid → hint in FileNotFoundError
+    tmp_file = Path("test_uid_hint.txt")
+    tmp_file.write_text("test")
+    artifact = ln.Artifact(tmp_file, description="test uid hint").save()
+    tmp_file.unlink()
+    with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError) as error:
+        ln.Artifact(artifact.uid)
+    assert f'did you mean Artifact.get("{artifact.uid}")' in error.exconly()
+    artifact.delete(permanent=True, storage=True)
+
+    # non-existent path with no matching uid → plain FileNotFoundError, no hint
+    with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError) as error:
+        ln.Artifact("nonexistent_file.csv")
+    assert "did you mean" not in error.exconly()
+
 
 def test_cloud_path_init_missing_storage_raises(monkeypatch):
     path = "s3://missing-storage/.lamindb/test_df.parquet"