diff --git a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
index aef199c8dc..bfaf528faf 100644
--- a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
+++ b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
@@ -976,7 +976,7 @@ func getKubernetesVersion(old *config.ClusterConfig) string {
 		if viper.GetBool(force) {
 			out.WarningT("Kubernetes {{.version}} is not supported by this release of minikube", out.V{"version": nvs})
 		} else {
-			exit.WithCodeT(exit.Data, "Sorry, Kubernetes {{.version}} is not supported by this release of minikube", out.V{"version": nvs})
+			exit.WithCodeT(exit.Data, "Sorry, Kubernetes {{.version}} is not supported by this release of minikube. To use this version anyway, use the `--force` flag.", out.V{"version": nvs})
 		}
 	}