diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javac.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javac.java
index 191387155..8b2a81dc3 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javac.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javac.java
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ import java.util.Vector;
 public class Javac extends MatchingTask {
 
     private final static String FAIL_MSG
-        = "Compile failed, messages should have been provided.";
+        = "Compile failed; see the compiler error output for details.";
 
     private Path src;
     private File destDir;
diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Rmic.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Rmic.java
index fee4219c5..f8f590251 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Rmic.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Rmic.java
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ import java.util.Vector;
 public class Rmic extends MatchingTask {
 
     private final static String FAIL_MSG 
-        = "Rmic failed, messages should have been provided.";
+        = "Rmic failed; see the compiler error output for details.";
 
     private File baseDir;
     private String classname;