diff --git a/src/jdk.compiler/share/classes/com/sun/tools/javac/resources/compiler.properties b/src/jdk.compiler/share/classes/com/sun/tools/javac/resources/compiler.properties
index a226b2f59603a..4c82065ec66e2 100644
--- a/src/jdk.compiler/share/classes/com/sun/tools/javac/resources/compiler.properties
+++ b/src/jdk.compiler/share/classes/com/sun/tools/javac/resources/compiler.properties
@@ -397,11 +397,11 @@ compiler.err.cant.inherit.from.final=\
 
 # 0: symbol or name
 compiler.err.cant.ref.before.ctor.called=\
-    cannot reference {0} before supertype constructor has been called
+    reference to {0} may only appear after an explicit constructor invocation
 
 # 0: symbol or name
 compiler.err.cant.assign.initialized.before.ctor.called=\
-    cannot assign initialized field ''{0}'' before supertype constructor has been called
+    assignment to initialized field ''{0}'' may only appear after an explicit constructor invocation
 
 compiler.err.cant.select.static.class.from.param.type=\
     cannot select a static class from a parameterized type