diff --git a/src/slurmctld/proc_req.c b/src/slurmctld/proc_req.c
index 12c98cae8f62466dc5b0f8880bf46214f67febb0..9fac0602283d73a55d4421d4c15f7cc377246350 100644
--- a/src/slurmctld/proc_req.c
+++ b/src/slurmctld/proc_req.c
@@ -2220,8 +2220,9 @@ static void _slurm_rpc_node_registration(slurm_msg_t * msg)
 		    (node_reg_stat_msg->hash_val != NO_VAL) &&
 		    (node_reg_stat_msg->hash_val != slurm_get_hash_val())) {
 			error("Node %s appears to have a different slurm.conf "
-			      "than the slurmctld.  This could cause issues "
-			      "with communication and functionality.  "
+			      "than the slurmctld (the checksum computed by "
+			      "the slurmd deamon differs).  This could cause "
+			      "issues with communication and functionality.  "
 			      "Please review both files and make sure they "
 			      "are the same.  If this is expected ignore, and "
 			      "set DebugFlags=NO_CONF_HASH in your slurm.conf.",