diff --git a/modules/kobalt-plugin-api/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/JvmCompiler.kt b/modules/kobalt-plugin-api/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/JvmCompiler.kt
index ba330537..cb614c94 100644
--- a/modules/kobalt-plugin-api/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/JvmCompiler.kt
+++ b/modules/kobalt-plugin-api/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/JvmCompiler.kt
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class JvmCompiler @Inject constructor(val dependencyManager: DependencyManager)
     private fun validateClasspath(cp: List<String>) {
         cp.forEach {
             if (! File(it).exists()) {
-                throw KobaltException("Couldn't find $it")
+                throw KobaltException("Invalid classpath: couldn't find $it")
             }
         }
     }