diff --git a/src/test_libFLAC++/metadata_manip.cc b/src/test_libFLAC++/metadata_manip.cc
index 78fa0ca0..7373d0c5 100644
--- a/src/test_libFLAC++/metadata_manip.cc
+++ b/src/test_libFLAC++/metadata_manip.cc
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ static bool test_level_1_()
 
 	printf("is writable = %u\n", (unsigned)iterator.is_writable());
 	if(iterator.is_writable())
-		return die_("iterator claims file is writable when it should not be\n");
+		return die_("iterator claims file is writable when tester thinks it should not be; are you running as root?\n");
 
 	printf("iterate forwards\n");