diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/app.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/app.rs
index 8f945436b63..c38d9018bdf 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/app.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/app.rs
@@ -1699,8 +1699,9 @@ impl App {
             Err(external_editor::EditorError::MissingEditor) => {
                 self.chat_widget
                     .add_to_history(history_cell::new_error_event(
-                        "Cannot open external editor: set $VISUAL or $EDITOR".to_string(),
-                    ));
+                    "Cannot open external editor: set $VISUAL or $EDITOR before starting Codex."
+                        .to_string(),
+                ));
                 self.reset_external_editor_state(tui);
                 return;
             }