diff --git a/src/avr.c b/src/avr.c
index 4d666c9d..619dc0da 100644
--- a/src/avr.c
+++ b/src/avr.c
@@ -873,8 +873,8 @@ int avr_write_byte_default(const PROGRAMMER *pgm, const AVRPART *p, const AVRMEM
         rc = pgm->initialize(pgm, p);
         if (rc < 0) {
           pmsg_error("initialization failed (rc = %d):\n", rc);
-          imsg_error("cannot re-initialize device after programming the %s bits; you\n", mem->desc);
-          imsg_error("must manually power-down the device and restart %s to continue\n", progname);
+          imsg_error("cannot re-initialize device after programming the %s bits;\n", mem->desc);
+          imsg_error("manually power-down the device and restart %s to continue\n", progname);
           rc = -3;
           goto rcerror;
         }
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index d2e8bb30..5806692c 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -1677,8 +1677,8 @@ skipopen:
         msg_info("\n");
         pmsg_error("invalid device signature\n");
         if (!ovsigck) {
-          pmsg_error("expected signature for %s is%s; double\n", p->desc, str_cchex(p->signature, 3, 1));
-          imsg_error("check connections and try again, or use -F to carry on regardless\n");
+          pmsg_error("expected signature for %s is%s\n", p->desc, str_cchex(p->signature, 3, 1));
+          imsg_error("  - double check connections and try again, or use -F to carry on regardless\n");
           exitrc = 1;
           goto main_exit;
         }
@@ -1690,8 +1690,8 @@ skipopen:
         if (ovsigck) {
           pmsg_warning("expected signature for %s is%s\n", p->desc, str_cchex(p->signature, 3, 1));
         } else {
-          pmsg_error("expected signature for %s is%s; double\n", p->desc, str_cchex(p->signature, 3, 1));
-          imsg_error("check chip or use -F to carry on regardless\n");
+          pmsg_error("expected signature for %s is%s\n", p->desc, str_cchex(p->signature, 3, 1));
+          imsg_error("  - double check chip or use -F to carry on regardless\n");
           exitrc = 1;
           goto main_exit;
         }