diff --git a/init.el b/init.el
index 71ef397..446a05a 100644
--- a/init.el
+++ b/init.el
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 (message "Prelude is powering up... Be patient, Master %s!" current-user)
 
 (when (version< emacs-version "24.1")
-  (error "Prelude requires at least GNU Emacs 24.1"))
+  (error "Prelude requires at least GNU Emacs 24.1, but you're running %s" emacs-version))
 
 (defvar prelude-dir (file-name-directory load-file-name)
   "The root dir of the Emacs Prelude distribution.")