diff --git a/unix/uxplink.c b/unix/uxplink.c
index a698c010..0af98ec5 100644
--- a/unix/uxplink.c
+++ b/unix/uxplink.c
@@ -825,7 +825,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
     if (backvt->flags & BACKEND_NEEDS_TERMINAL) {
         fprintf(stderr,
-                "Plink must have a terminal to run.\n");
+                "Plink doesn't support %s, which needs terminal emulation\n",
+                backvt->displayname);
         return 1;
     }
 
diff --git a/windows/winplink.c b/windows/winplink.c
index f521861c..79fa5ab4 100644
--- a/windows/winplink.c
+++ b/windows/winplink.c
@@ -398,7 +398,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
     if (vt->flags & BACKEND_NEEDS_TERMINAL) {
         fprintf(stderr,
-                "Plink must have a terminal to run.\n");
+                "Plink doesn't support %s, which needs terminal emulation\n",
+                vt->displayname);
         return 1;
     }