diff --git a/util/wmaker.inst.in b/util/wmaker.inst.in
index ad2a9a84..4aeac652 100644
--- a/util/wmaker.inst.in
+++ b/util/wmaker.inst.in
@@ -113,8 +113,8 @@ else
 	if [ ! -d "$GSDIR" ]; then
 		# in this case, and in this case only, mkdir needs -p option
 		mkdir -p $GSDIR || {
-		echo "Directory specified in GNUSTEP_USER_ROOT environment variable does not exist"
-		exit 1
+		    echo "Directory specified in GNUSTEP_USER_ROOT environment variable does not exist and could not be created"
+		    exit 1
 		}
 		chmod +rwx $GSDIR || exit 1
 	fi