diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index aa9c05736ebb..e22d8bcdf59f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -259,9 +259,9 @@ ${TGTS}: .PHONY
 # if they want the historic behavior.
 .MAIN:	_guard
 
-_guard:
+_guard: .PHONY
 	@echo
-	@echo "Explicit target required (use \"all\" for historic behavior)"
+	@echo "Explicit target required.  Likely \"buildworld\" is wanted.  See build(7)."
 	@echo
 	@false