diff --git a/contracts/eosio.system/delegate_bandwidth.cpp b/contracts/eosio.system/delegate_bandwidth.cpp
index 14b355f711e749e13a5cdda32d25f1f1892d7a6d..4f33344e23b6fed1f15a49b77ab5978b221d2c5c 100644
--- a/contracts/eosio.system/delegate_bandwidth.cpp
+++ b/contracts/eosio.system/delegate_bandwidth.cpp
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ namespace eosiosystem {
       eosio_assert( asset() <= unstake_cpu_quantity, "must unstake a positive amount" );
       eosio_assert( asset() <= unstake_net_quantity, "must unstake a positive amount" );
       eosio_assert( asset() < unstake_cpu_quantity + unstake_net_quantity, "must unstake a positive amount" );
-      eosio_assert( _gstate.total_activated_stake >= min_activated_stake, "not enough has been staked for users to unstake" );
+      eosio_assert( _gstate.total_activated_stake >= min_activated_stake, "the chain has not been activate yet (less than 15% participated in voting)" );
 
       changebw( from, receiver, -unstake_net_quantity, -unstake_cpu_quantity, false);
    } // undelegatebw
diff --git a/contracts/eosio.system/producer_pay.cpp b/contracts/eosio.system/producer_pay.cpp
index f9d9bedb50575b76878d4c7e223746acc0b052fe..b4e170c83cccc7eeff31a2a01dd6f9769031c786 100644
--- a/contracts/eosio.system/producer_pay.cpp
+++ b/contracts/eosio.system/producer_pay.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ namespace eosiosystem {
       const auto& prod = _producers.get( owner );
       eosio_assert( prod.active(), "producer does not have an active key" );
       
-      eosio_assert( _gstate.total_activated_stake >= min_activated_stake, "not enough has been staked for producers to claim rewards" );
+      eosio_assert( _gstate.total_activated_stake >= min_activated_stake, "the chain has not been activate yet (less than 15% participated in voting)" );
 
       auto ct = current_time();