diff --git a/changelog/src/main/org/apache/maven/cvslib/CvsChangeLogGenerator.java b/changelog/src/main/org/apache/maven/cvslib/CvsChangeLogGenerator.java
index 9a172315..8d71a160 100644
--- a/changelog/src/main/org/apache/maven/cvslib/CvsChangeLogGenerator.java
+++ b/changelog/src/main/org/apache/maven/cvslib/CvsChangeLogGenerator.java
@@ -128,7 +128,13 @@ class CvsChangeLogGenerator extends AbstractChangeLogGenerator
         {
             throw new IllegalArgumentException(
                 "repository connection string"
-                    + " does not specify 'cvs' as the scm");
+                    + " does not specify 'cvs' as the scm"
+                    + System.getProperty("line.separator") 
+                    + "If using another scm, maven.changelog.factory"
+                    + " must be set." 
+                    + System.getProperty("line.separator")
+                    + "See the maven changelog plugin documentation" 
+                    + " for correct settings."  );
         }
 
         Commandline command = new Commandline();