diff --git a/library/system/service b/library/system/service
index c256b70c43..9820c28a06 100644
--- a/library/system/service
+++ b/library/system/service
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ class LinuxService(Service):
     def service_enable(self):
 
         if self.enable_cmd is None:
-            self.module.fail_json(msg='service name not recognized')
+            self.module.fail_json(msg='unknown init system, cannot enable service')
 
         # FIXME: we use chkconfig or systemctl
         # to decide whether to run the command here but need something