diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 2355227bcb..9975e5a4e3 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -3929,7 +3929,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
 #endif
 
     if (machine_class == NULL) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "No machine found.\n");
+        fprintf(stderr, "No machine specified, and there is no default.\n"
+                "Use -machine help to list supported machines!\n");
         exit(1);
     }