diff --git a/igor2/packed.py b/igor2/packed.py
index caf413a..d41ffd1 100644
--- a/igor2/packed.py
+++ b/igor2/packed.py
@@ -44,6 +44,28 @@
 
 
 def load(filename, strict=True, ignore_unknown=True, initial_byte_order=None):
+    """Load a packed experiment file.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    filename : str or file-like object
+        The path to the file or a file-like object representing the packed
+        experiment file.
+    strict : bool, optional
+        This parameter is ignored. Defaults to True.
+    ignore_unknown : bool, optional
+        If True, ignore unknown record types. Defaults to True.
+    initial_byte_order : str or None, optional
+        The initial byte order to use for unpacking. Must be one of '>', '=',
+        '<'. If None, '=' is used. Defaults to None.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    records : list of Record
+        The records in the packed experiment file.
+    filesystem : dict
+        The filesystem structure of the packed experiment file.
+    """
     logger.debug('loading a packed experiment file from {}'.format(filename))
     records = []
     if hasattr(filename, 'read'):
@@ -81,7 +103,8 @@ def load(filename, strict=True, ignore_unknown=True, initial_byte_order=None):
             data = bytes(f.read(header['numDataBytes']))
             if len(data) < header['numDataBytes']:
                 raise ValueError(
-                    ('not enough data for the next record ({} < {})'
+                    ('not enough data for the next record ({} < {}), '
+                     'try loading with a different initial byte order'
                      ).format(len(b), header['numDataBytes']))
             record_type = _RECORD_TYPE.get(
                 header['recordType'] & PACKEDRECTYPE_MASK, _UnknownRecord)