diff --git a/src/ape/api/networks.py b/src/ape/api/networks.py
index 26f1aa673e..30f92e36b5 100644
--- a/src/ape/api/networks.py
+++ b/src/ape/api/networks.py
@@ -638,11 +638,7 @@ def get_provider_id(cls, provider: "ProviderAPI") -> Optional[str]:
         if not provider.is_connected:
             return None
 
-        return (
-            f"{provider.network.ecosystem.name}:"
-            f"{provider.network.name}:{provider.name}-"
-            f"{provider.chain_id}"
-        )
+        return f"{provider.network_choice}:-{provider.chain_id}"
 
 
 class NetworkAPI(BaseInterfaceModel):
@@ -694,8 +690,7 @@ def __repr__(self) -> str:
             # Only happens on local networks
             chain_id = None
 
-        network_key = f"{self.ecosystem.name}:{self.name}"
-        content = f"{network_key} chain_id={self.chain_id}" if chain_id is not None else network_key
+        content = f"{self.choice} chain_id={self.chain_id}" if chain_id is not None else self.choice
         return f"<{content}>"
 
     @property
@@ -925,6 +920,10 @@ def default_provider(self) -> Optional[str]:
 
         return None
 
+    @property
+    def choice(self) -> str:
+        return f"{self.ecosystem.name}:{self.name}"
+
     def set_default_provider(self, provider_name: str):
         """
         Change the default provider.
@@ -939,10 +938,7 @@ def set_default_provider(self, provider_name: str):
         if provider_name in self.providers:
             self._default_provider = provider_name
         else:
-            raise NetworkError(
-                f"Provider '{provider_name}' not found in network "
-                f"'{self.ecosystem.name}:{self.name}'."
-            )
+            raise NetworkError(f"Provider '{provider_name}' not found in network '{self.choice}'.")
 
     def use_default_provider(
         self, provider_settings: Optional[Dict] = None
diff --git a/src/ape/api/providers.py b/src/ape/api/providers.py
index 67ecee9f3d..ce9c99d5e1 100644
--- a/src/ape/api/providers.py
+++ b/src/ape/api/providers.py
@@ -211,6 +211,13 @@ def get_code(self, address: AddressType, **kwargs) -> ContractCode:
             :class:`~ape.types.ContractCode`: The contract bytecode.
         """
 
+    @property
+    def network_choice(self) -> str:
+        """
+        The connected network choice string.
+        """
+        return f"{self.network.choice}:{self.name}"
+
     @raises_not_implemented
     def get_storage_at(self, address: AddressType, slot: int) -> bytes:  # type: ignore[empty-body]
         """
@@ -722,8 +729,7 @@ def base_fee(self) -> int:
             # Use the less-accurate approach (OK for testing).
             logger.debug(
                 "Failed using `web3.eth.fee_history` for network "
-                f"'{self.network.ecosystem.name}:{self.network.name}:{self.name}'. "
-                f"Error: {exc}"
+                f"'{self.network_choice}'. Error: {exc}"
             )
             return self._get_last_base_fee()
 
diff --git a/src/ape/managers/chain.py b/src/ape/managers/chain.py
index 2fb4878184..18d8bcb3e0 100644
--- a/src/ape/managers/chain.py
+++ b/src/ape/managers/chain.py
@@ -969,7 +969,7 @@ def __getitem__(self, address: AddressType) -> ContractType:
         if not contract_type:
             # Create error message from custom exception cls.
             err = ContractNotFoundError(
-                address, self.provider.network.explorer is not None, self.provider.name
+                address, self.provider.network.explorer is not None, self.provider.network_choice
             )
             # Must raise IndexError.
             raise IndexError(str(err))
@@ -1185,7 +1185,7 @@ def instance_at(
             raise ContractNotFoundError(
                 contract_address,
                 self.provider.network.explorer is not None,
-                self.provider.name,
+                self.provider.network_choice,
             )
 
         elif not isinstance(contract_type, ContractType):
diff --git a/tests/functional/test_chain.py b/tests/functional/test_chain.py
index fb820781b7..13dad434e7 100644
--- a/tests/functional/test_chain.py
+++ b/tests/functional/test_chain.py
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ def test_instance_at_contract_type_not_found(chain):
     new_address = "0x4a986a6dca6dbF99Bc3D17F8d71aFB0D60E740F9"
     expected = (
         rf"Failed to get contract type for address '{new_address}'. "
-        r"Current provider 'test' has no associated explorer plugin. "
+        r"Current provider 'ethereum:local:test' has no associated explorer plugin. "
         "Try installing an explorer plugin using .*ape plugins install etherscan.*, "
         r"or using a network with explorer support\."
     )
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ def test_contracts_getitem_contract_not_found(chain):
     new_address = "0x4a986a6dca6dbF99Bc3D17F8d71aFB0D60E740F9"
     expected = (
         rf"Failed to get contract type for address '{new_address}'. "
-        r"Current provider 'test' has no associated explorer plugin. "
+        r"Current provider 'ethereum:local:test' has no associated explorer plugin. "
         "Try installing an explorer plugin using .*ape plugins install etherscan.*, "
         r"or using a network with explorer support\."
     )