diff --git a/py/desidatamodel/stub.py b/py/desidatamodel/stub.py
index 7cdd1b80..18f13a41 100644
--- a/py/desidatamodel/stub.py
+++ b/py/desidatamodel/stub.py
@@ -713,15 +713,15 @@ def read_column_descriptions(filename):
 
     with open(filename) as fp:
         header = fp.readline().strip()
-        correct_header = 'Name,Type,Units,Description'
+        correct_header = 'Name,Type,Units,FullDescription,Description'
         if header != correct_header:
-            raise ValueError(f'{filename} header {header} should be {correct_header}')
+            raise ValueError(f'{filename} header {header} should be {correct_header}.')
 
         coldesc = dict()
         csvreader = csv.reader(fp)
         for row in csvreader:
-            name, dtype, units, desc = row
-            coldesc[name] = dict(Type=dtype, Units=units, Description=desc)
+            name, dtype, units, dm_desc, fits_desc = row
+            coldesc[name] = dict(Type=dtype, Units=units, Description=dm_desc)
 
     return coldesc
 
diff --git a/py/desidatamodel/test/t/column_descriptions.csv b/py/desidatamodel/test/t/column_descriptions.csv
index 44d2d199..2fec875f 100644
--- a/py/desidatamodel/test/t/column_descriptions.csv
+++ b/py/desidatamodel/test/t/column_descriptions.csv
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-Name,Type,Units,Description
-target,char[20],,Target Name
-V_mag,float32,nanomaggy,V-band nanomaggy to test units
-vdisp,float64,m/s,Velocity dispersion
+Name,Type,Units,FullDescription,Description
+target,char[20],,Target Name,Target Name
+V_mag,float32,nanomaggy,V-band nanomaggy to test units,V-band flux
+vdisp,float64,m/s,Velocity dispersion,Vel Disp
diff --git a/py/desidatamodel/test/test_stub.py b/py/desidatamodel/test/test_stub.py
index b6188d7d..9ce7be0a 100644
--- a/py/desidatamodel/test/test_stub.py
+++ b/py/desidatamodel/test/test_stub.py
@@ -685,6 +685,10 @@ def test_Stub_with_descriptions(self, mock_log):
 
         # incorrect format column description file
         baddescfile = self.test_files / 'bad_column_descriptions.csv'
-        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+        header = 'Name,dtype,Units,Description'
+        correct_header = 'Name,Type,Units,FullDescription,Description'
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError) as exc:
             stub = Stub(filename, description_file=baddescfile)
             lines = str(stub)
+        self.assertEqual(exc.exception.args[0],
+                         f'{str(baddescfile)} header {header} should be {correct_header}.')