diff --git a/lib/npm.js b/lib/npm.js
index da5a363602122..3ae1e5f7cf894 100644
--- a/lib/npm.js
+++ b/lib/npm.js
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@
       loadErr = er
       if (er) return cb_(er)
       if (npm.config.get('force')) {
-        log.warn('using --force', 'I sure hope you know what you are doing.')
+        log.warn('using --force', 'Installing semver-major updates to top-level dependencies, not just semver-compatible ones.')
       }
       npm.config.loaded = true
       loaded = true