diff --git a/scripts/generate_query_config.pl b/scripts/generate_query_config.pl
index eab986a..b565024 100755
--- a/scripts/generate_query_config.pl
+++ b/scripts/generate_query_config.pl
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
     unless( -f $config_file && -f $query_config_format_file ) {
         chdir '..' or die;
         -f $config_file && -f $query_config_format_file
-          or die "Without arguments, must be run from root or a subdirectory\n";
+          or die "No arguments supplied, must be run from project root or a first-level subdirectory\n";
     }
 }