diff --git a/crates/bevy_asset/src/io/mod.rs b/crates/bevy_asset/src/io/mod.rs
index c03afdabf1..15632ed4c9 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_asset/src/io/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_asset/src/io/mod.rs
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ pub(crate) fn get_meta_path(path: &Path) -> PathBuf {
     let mut meta_path = path.to_path_buf();
     let mut extension = path
         .extension()
-        .expect("asset paths must have extensions")
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| panic!("missing extension for asset path {path:?}"))
         .to_os_string();
     extension.push(".meta");
     meta_path.set_extension(extension);