diff --git a/audio_sndio.c b/audio_sndio.c
index 16367662..dd403894 100644
--- a/audio_sndio.c
+++ b/audio_sndio.c
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ static int init(int argc, char **argv) {
     }
   }
   if (!found)
-    die("sndio: failed to negotiate audio parameters");
+    die("sndio: could not set output device to the required format and rate.");
   
 
   framesize = par.bps * par.pchan;