diff --git a/usr.bin/xinstall/xinstall.c b/usr.bin/xinstall/xinstall.c
index d0038de10bf..49e47c65a36 100644
--- a/usr.bin/xinstall/xinstall.c
+++ b/usr.bin/xinstall/xinstall.c
@@ -221,7 +221,12 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	/* can't do file1 file2 directory/file */
 	if (argc != 2) {
-		warnx("wrong number or types of arguments");
+		if (no_target)
+			warnx("target directory `%s' does not exist", 
+			    argv[argc - 1]);
+		else
+			warnx("target `%s' is not a directory",
+			    argv[argc - 1]);
 		usage();
 	}