diff --git a/functions-common b/functions-common
index 111d339372..b1ca6ad3c0 100644
--- a/functions-common
+++ b/functions-common
@@ -569,7 +569,7 @@ function git_clone {
             if [[ "$ERROR_ON_CLONE" = "True" ]]; then
                 echo "The $git_dest project was not found; if this is a gate job, add"
                 echo "the project to 'required-projects' in the job definition."
-                die $LINENO "Cloning not allowed in this configuration"
+                die $LINENO "ERROR_ON_CLONE is set to True so cloning not allowed in this configuration"
             fi
             git_timed clone $git_clone_flags $git_remote $git_dest
         fi
@@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ function git_clone {
             if [[ "$ERROR_ON_CLONE" = "True" ]]; then
                 echo "The $git_dest project was not found; if this is a gate job, add"
                 echo "the project to the \$PROJECTS variable in the job definition."
-                die $LINENO "Cloning not allowed in this configuration"
+                die $LINENO "ERROR_ON_CLONE is set to True so cloning not allowed in this configuration"
             fi
             # '--branch' can also take tags
             git_timed clone $git_clone_flags $git_remote $git_dest --branch $git_ref