diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 1b038d4b..7fc9974c 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -669,7 +669,7 @@ endif()
 
 CHECK_LIBRARY_EXISTS(${NETCDF_C_LIBRARY} nc_def_var_szip "" HAVE_DEF_VAR_SZIP)
 if (NOT HAVE_DEF_VAR_SZIP)
-  message(FATAL_ERROR "netcdf-c version 4.7.4 or greater is required")
+  message(FATAL_ERROR "netcdf-c version 4.7.4 or greater is required, built with underlying szip support.")
 endif()
 
 ###
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 611f0eee..bc26c410 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -553,7 +553,7 @@ AC_CHECK_FUNCS([nc_def_opaque nccreate nc_set_log_level oc_open nc_def_var_szip]
 
 # Starting with version 4.7.4, netcdf-c has function nc_def_var_szip().
 if test "x$ac_cv_func_nc_def_var_szip" != xyes; then
-   AC_MSG_ERROR([netcdf-c version 4.7.4 or greater is required])
+   AC_MSG_ERROR([netcdf-c version 4.7.4 or greater is required, built with underlying szip support.])
 fi
 
 nc_build_v2=no