diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/service/ClientState.java b/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/service/ClientState.java
index a58027e5bd..be3b895caa 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/service/ClientState.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/service/ClientState.java
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ public class ClientState
     public String getKeyspace() throws InvalidRequestException
     {
         if (keyspace == null)
-            throw new InvalidRequestException("no keyspace has been specified");
+            throw new InvalidRequestException("No keyspace has been specified. USE a keyspace, or explicity specify keyspace.tablename");
         return keyspace;
     }