diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 33119ac3bd..cbbff4eb99 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ else()
   if (BASH)
     set(SHELL ${BASH})
   else()
-    message(SEND_ERROR "Can't find a suitable bash executable. Please set GNC_SHELL.")
+    message(SEND_ERROR "Can't find a suitable bash executable. Please install bash or set GNC_SHELL.")
   endif()
 endif()
 
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ if (GNC_VCS_INFO_RESULT EQUAL 0)
   # if building from VCS, we need git
   find_package(Git)
   if (NOT GIT_FOUND)
-    message(SEND_ERROR "Looks like we're building from version control, but can't find git executable. Please set GIT_EXECUTABLE.")
+    message(SEND_ERROR "Looks like we're building from version control, but can't find git executable. Please install git or set GIT_EXECUTABLE.")
   endif()
   set(VCS_INFO_BASE_DIR ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR})
 else()