diff --git a/NEWS.txt b/NEWS.txt
index e8f86b753b..3edd46cc69 100644
--- a/NEWS.txt
+++ b/NEWS.txt
@@ -127,8 +127,8 @@ Deprecation
 Operations
 ----------
     - Switching racks is no longer an allowed operation on a node which has
-      data. Instead, the node will need to be wiped and bootstrapped. If
-      moving from the SimpleSnitch, make sure the rack containing all current
+      data. Instead, the node will need to be decommissioned and rebootstrapped.
+      If moving from the SimpleSnitch, make sure the rack containing all current
       nodes is named "rack1".
 
 
diff --git a/conf/cassandra.yaml b/conf/cassandra.yaml
index 7121f8d706..bf5149f89c 100644
--- a/conf/cassandra.yaml
+++ b/conf/cassandra.yaml
@@ -758,7 +758,7 @@ cross_node_timeout: false
 # ARE PLACED.
 #
 # IF THE RACK A REPLICA IS PLACED IN CHANGES AFTER THE REPLICA HAS BEEN
-# ADDED TO A RING, THE NODE MUST BE WIPED AND REBOOTSTRAPPED.
+# ADDED TO A RING, THE NODE MUST BE DECOMMISSIONED AND REBOOTSTRAPPED.
 #
 # Out of the box, Cassandra provides
 #  - SimpleSnitch:
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/service/CassandraDaemon.java b/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/service/CassandraDaemon.java
index 799dc1f2ab..b925919149 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/service/CassandraDaemon.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/service/CassandraDaemon.java
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ public class CassandraDaemon
             if (!storedRack.equals(currentRack))
             {
                 logger.error("Cannot start node if snitch's rack differs from previous rack. " +
-                             "Please fix the snitch or wipe and rebootstrap this node.");
+                             "Please fix the snitch or decommission and rebootstrap this node.");
                 System.exit(100);
             }
         }