diff --git a/letsencrypt/le_util.py b/letsencrypt/le_util.py
index ba2427c79..6bf26ff7e 100644
--- a/letsencrypt/le_util.py
+++ b/letsencrypt/le_util.py
@@ -33,8 +33,7 @@ def make_or_verify_dir(directory, mode=0o755, uid=0):
         if exception.errno == errno.EEXIST:
             if not check_permissions(directory, mode, uid):
                 raise errors.LetsEncryptClientError(
-                    "%s exists, but does not have the proper "
-                    "permissions or owner" % directory)
+                    "%s exists, this client can't access it" % directory)
         else:
             raise