diff --git a/public/Copy-DbaDbTableData.ps1 b/public/Copy-DbaDbTableData.ps1
index 3ed8b1aba75..e42efc7cc04 100644
--- a/public/Copy-DbaDbTableData.ps1
+++ b/public/Copy-DbaDbTableData.ps1
@@ -326,7 +326,12 @@ function Copy-DbaDbTableData {
 
     process {
         if ((Test-Bound -Not -ParameterName InputObject) -and ((Test-Bound -Not -ParameterName SqlInstance, Database -And) -or (Test-Bound -Not -ParameterName Table, View))) {
-            Stop-Function -Message "You must pipe in a table or specify SqlInstance, Database and [View|Table]."
+            if (Test-Bound -ParameterName Query) {
+                # Without the hint at Query the message reads as if SqlInstance or Database were missing (see #10676).
+                Stop-Function -Message "When using Query, you still have to specify SqlInstance, Database and [View|Table]. The query determines the data that is copied, but the command needs the table or view as the source object for its metadata."
+            } else {
+                Stop-Function -Message "You must pipe in a table or specify SqlInstance, Database and [View|Table]."
+            }
             return
         }
 
diff --git a/tests/Copy-DbaDbTableData.Tests.ps1 b/tests/Copy-DbaDbTableData.Tests.ps1
index cbeb260bdaa..aa65b0a358d 100644
--- a/tests/Copy-DbaDbTableData.Tests.ps1
+++ b/tests/Copy-DbaDbTableData.Tests.ps1
@@ -116,6 +116,20 @@ Describe $CommandName -Tag IntegrationTests {
             $result = Copy-DbaDbTableData -SqlInstance $TestConfig.InstanceCopy2 -Database tempdb -Table dbo.dbatoolsci_example4 -Query "SELECT TOP (1) Id FROM tempdb.dbo.dbatoolsci_example4 ORDER BY Id DESC" -DestinationTable dbatoolsci_example3 -Truncate
             $result.RowsCopied | Should -Be 1
         }
+
+        It "Points at the Query requirement when Query is used without a source table" {
+            # The generic message reads as if SqlInstance or Database were missing (#10676).
+            $splatQueryOnly = @{
+                SqlInstance      = $TestConfig.InstanceCopy2
+                Database         = "tempdb"
+                Query            = "SELECT TOP (1) Id FROM dbo.dbatoolsci_example4"
+                DestinationTable = "dbatoolsci_example3"
+                WarningAction    = "SilentlyContinue"
+            }
+            $result = Copy-DbaDbTableData @splatQueryOnly
+            $result | Should -BeNullOrEmpty
+            $WarnVar | Should -Match "When using Query"
+        }
     }
 
     Context "When testing pipeline functionality" {