diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/upload.py b/Lib/distutils/command/upload.py
index f7752f9d12..cb36cbfc5a 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/upload.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/upload.py
@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@ class upload(PyPIRCCommand):
 
     def run(self):
         if not self.distribution.dist_files:
-            msg = "No dist file created in earlier command"
+            msg = "Must create and upload dist files in one command " \
+                  "(e.g. setup.py sdist upload)"
             raise DistutilsOptionError(msg)
         for command, pyversion, filename in self.distribution.dist_files:
             self.upload_file(command, pyversion, filename)