diff --git a/src/pair.cpp b/src/pair.cpp
index dad914e012..fc7232d615 100644
--- a/src/pair.cpp
+++ b/src/pair.cpp
@@ -821,7 +821,7 @@ void Pair::map_element2type(int narg, char **arg, bool update_setflag)
   // elements = list of element names
 
   if (narg != ntypes)
-    error->all(FLERR,"Incorrect args for pair coefficients");
+    error->all(FLERR,"Number of element to type mappings does not match number of atom types");
 
   if (elements) {
     for (i = 0; i < nelements; i++) delete[] elements[i];