diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 32268da3..aa55d3a3 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -1128,10 +1128,12 @@ int main(int argc, char * argv [])
     exit(1);
   }
 
-  if(!ovsigck && partdesc && (p = locate_part(part_list, partdesc)) && !(p->prog_modes & pgm->prog_modes)) {
-    pmsg_error("programmer %s cannot program part %s as they\n", pgmid, p->desc);
-    imsg_error("lack a common programming mode; use -F to override this check\n");
-    exit(1);
+  if(partdesc && (p = locate_part(part_list, partdesc)) && !(p->prog_modes & pgm->prog_modes)) {
+    pmsg_error("-c %s cannot program %s for lack of a common programming mode\n", pgmid, p->desc);
+    if(!ovsigck) {
+      imsg_error("use -F to override this check\n");
+      exit(1);
+    }
   }
 
   if (pgm->initpgm) {