diff --git a/_pytest/pytester.py b/_pytest/pytester.py
index 11ebc4472..ab4d75528 100644
--- a/_pytest/pytester.py
+++ b/_pytest/pytester.py
@@ -125,11 +125,14 @@ class HookRecorder:
                 py.test.fail("could not find %r check %r" % (name, check))
 
     def popcall(self, name):
+        __tracebackhide__ = True
         for i, call in enumerate(self.calls):
             if call._name == name:
                 del self.calls[i]
                 return call
-        raise ValueError("could not find call %r" %(name, ))
+        lines = ["could not find call %r, in:" % (name,)]
+        lines.extend(["  %s" % str(x) for x in self.calls])
+        py.test.fail("\n".join(lines))
 
     def getcall(self, name):
         l = self.getcalls(name)
diff --git a/testing/test_pytester.py b/testing/test_pytester.py
index 87878d734..8b246d7d1 100644
--- a/testing/test_pytester.py
+++ b/testing/test_pytester.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def test_hookrecorder_basic():
     call = rec.popcall("pytest_xyz")
     assert call.arg == 123
     assert call._name == "pytest_xyz"
-    pytest.raises(ValueError, "rec.popcall('abc')")
+    pytest.raises(pytest.fail.Exception, "rec.popcall('abc')")
 
 def test_hookrecorder_basic_no_args_hook():
     rec = HookRecorder(PluginManager())