diff --git a/src/server/slavefuncs.c b/src/server/slavefuncs.c
--- a/src/server/slavefuncs.c
+++ b/src/server/slavefuncs.c
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ int checkUsername(char *username)
 {
   if(username == NULL || strcmp(username, "!username") == 0 )
     {
-     fprintf(stderr, "\nPlease ensure that your username is present in distrenslave.conf\n");
+     fprintf(stderr, "\nPlease ensure that your username is present in distrenslave.conf, or use the -u flag to set a username.\n");
      return 1;
    }
    else