diff --git a/pkg/registry/generic/etcd/etcd.go b/pkg/registry/generic/etcd/etcd.go
index ee148c7f43f..5b764311116 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/generic/etcd/etcd.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/generic/etcd/etcd.go
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ func (e *Etcd) Update(ctx api.Context, obj runtime.Object) (runtime.Object, bool
 		}
 		if newVersion != version {
 			// TODO: return the most recent version to a client?
-			return nil, nil, kubeerr.NewConflict(e.EndpointName, name, fmt.Errorf("the resource was updated to %d", version))
+			return nil, nil, kubeerr.NewConflict(e.EndpointName, name, fmt.Errorf("the object has been modified; please apply your changes to the latest version and try again"))
 		}
 		if err := rest.BeforeUpdate(e.UpdateStrategy, ctx, obj, existing); err != nil {
 			return nil, nil, err