diff --git a/docs/release-notes.md b/docs/release-notes.md
index fabe7572..5409d9ff 100644
--- a/docs/release-notes.md
+++ b/docs/release-notes.md
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 * For the Error Handler mod:
   * Added in SMAPI 3.9. This has vanilla error-handling that was previously added by SMAPI directly. That simplifies the core SMAPI logic, and lets players or modders disable it if needed.
+  * Added a detailed message for the _Input string was not in a correct format_ error when the game fails to parse an item text description.
 
 ## 3.8.4
 Released 15 January 2021 for Stardew Valley 1.5.3 or later.
diff --git a/src/SMAPI.Mods.ErrorHandler/ModEntry.cs b/src/SMAPI.Mods.ErrorHandler/ModEntry.cs
index fa9338f4..2f6f1939 100644
--- a/src/SMAPI.Mods.ErrorHandler/ModEntry.cs
+++ b/src/SMAPI.Mods.ErrorHandler/ModEntry.cs
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ namespace StardewModdingAPI.Mods.ErrorHandler
                 new DialogueErrorPatch(logManager.MonitorForGame, this.Helper.Reflection),
                 new ObjectErrorPatch(),
                 new LoadErrorPatch(this.Monitor, this.OnSaveContentRemoved),
-                new ScheduleErrorPatch(logManager.MonitorForGame)
+                new ScheduleErrorPatch(logManager.MonitorForGame),
+                new UtilityErrorPatches()
             );
 
             // hook events
diff --git a/src/SMAPI.Mods.ErrorHandler/Patches/UtilityErrorPatches.cs b/src/SMAPI.Mods.ErrorHandler/Patches/UtilityErrorPatches.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..481c881e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/SMAPI.Mods.ErrorHandler/Patches/UtilityErrorPatches.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+#if HARMONY_2
+using System;
+using HarmonyLib;
+#else
+using Harmony;
+#endif
+using System;
+using System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis;
+using System.Reflection;
+using StardewModdingAPI.Framework.Patching;
+using StardewValley;
+
+namespace StardewModdingAPI.Mods.ErrorHandler.Patches
+{
+    /// <summary>A Harmony patch for <see cref="Utility"/> methods to log more detailed errors.</summary>
+    /// <remarks>Patch methods must be static for Harmony to work correctly. See the Harmony documentation before renaming patch arguments.</remarks>
+    [SuppressMessage("ReSharper", "InconsistentNaming", Justification = "Argument names are defined by Harmony and methods are named for clarity.")]
+    [SuppressMessage("ReSharper", "IdentifierTypo", Justification = "Argument names are defined by Harmony and methods are named for clarity.")]
+    internal class UtilityErrorPatches : IHarmonyPatch
+    {
+        /*********
+        ** Accessors
+        *********/
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        public string Name => nameof(UtilityErrorPatches);
+
+
+        /*********
+        ** Public methods
+        *********/
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+#if HARMONY_2
+        public void Apply(Harmony harmony)
+        {
+            harmony.Patch(
+                original: AccessTools.Method(typeof(Utility), nameof(Utility.getItemFromStandardTextDescription)),
+                finalizer: new HarmonyMethod(this.GetType(), nameof(UtilityErrorPatches.Finalize_Utility_GetItemFromStandardTextDescription))
+            );
+        }
+#else
+        public void Apply(HarmonyInstance harmony)
+        {
+            harmony.Patch(
+                original: AccessTools.Method(typeof(Utility), nameof(Utility.getItemFromStandardTextDescription)),
+                prefix: new HarmonyMethod(this.GetType(), nameof(UtilityErrorPatches.Before_Utility_GetItemFromStandardTextDescription))
+            );
+        }
+#endif
+
+
+        /*********
+        ** Private methods
+        *********/
+#if HARMONY_2
+        /// <summary>The method to call instead of <see cref="Utility.getItemFromStandardTextDescription"/>.</summary>
+        /// <param name="description">The item text description to parse.</param>
+        /// <param name="delimiter">The delimiter by which to split the text description.</param>
+        /// <param name="__exception">The exception thrown by the wrapped method, if any.</param>
+        /// <returns>Returns the exception to throw, if any.</returns>
+        private static Exception Finalize_Utility_GetItemFromStandardTextDescription(string description, char delimiter, ref Exception __exception)
+        {
+            return __exception != null
+                ? new FormatException($"Failed to parse item text description \"{description}\" with delimiter \"{delimiter}\".", __exception)
+                : null;
+        }
+#else
+        /// <summary>The method to call instead of <see cref="Utility.getItemFromStandardTextDescription"/>.</summary>
+        /// <param name="__result">The return value of the original method.</param>
+        /// <param name="description">The item text description to parse.</param>
+        /// <param name="who">The player for which the item is being parsed.</param>
+        /// <param name="delimiter">The delimiter by which to split the text description.</param>
+        /// <param name="__originalMethod">The method being wrapped.</param>
+        /// <returns>Returns whether to execute the original method.</returns>
+        private static bool Before_Utility_GetItemFromStandardTextDescription(ref Item __result, string description, Farmer who, char delimiter, MethodInfo __originalMethod)
+        {
+            const string key = nameof(UtilityErrorPatches.Before_Utility_GetItemFromStandardTextDescription);
+            if (!PatchHelper.StartIntercept(key))
+                return true;
+
+            try
+            {
+                __result = (Item)__originalMethod.Invoke(null, new object[] { description, who, delimiter });
+                return false;
+            }
+            catch (TargetInvocationException ex)
+            {
+                throw new FormatException($"Failed to parse item text description \"{description}\" with delimiter \"{delimiter}\".", ex.InnerException);
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                PatchHelper.StopIntercept(key);
+            }
+        }
+#endif
+    }
+}