diff --git a/sys/conf/kern.post.mk b/sys/conf/kern.post.mk
index acbfc6638fa7..e5aeac68d8fa 100644
--- a/sys/conf/kern.post.mk
+++ b/sys/conf/kern.post.mk
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ kernel-cleandepend: .PHONY
 
 kernel-tags:
 	@ls .depend.* > /dev/null 2>&1 || \
-	    { echo "you must make depend first"; exit 1; }
+	    { echo "you must make all first"; exit 1; }
 	sh $S/conf/systags.sh
 
 kernel-install: .PHONY