diff --git a/src/commands/cp.rs b/src/commands/cp.rs
index d3f2e913cd..17fef68651 100644
--- a/src/commands/cp.rs
+++ b/src/commands/cp.rs
@@ -240,8 +240,8 @@ pub fn cp(args: CommandArgs, registry: &CommandRegistry) -> Result<OutputStream,
         if destination.exists() {
             if !sources.iter().all(|x| (x.as_ref().unwrap()).is_file()) {
                 return Err(ShellError::labeled_error(
-                    "Copy aborted (directories found).",
-                    "Copy aborted (directories found).",
+                    "Copy aborted (directories found). Recursive copying in patterns not supported yet (try copying the directory directly)",
+                    "Copy aborted (directories found). Recursive copying in patterns not supported yet (try copying the directory directly)",
                     args.nth(0).unwrap().span(),
                 ));
             }
diff --git a/src/commands/mv.rs b/src/commands/mv.rs
index c5b6e7095a..2b6c02b48f 100644
--- a/src/commands/mv.rs
+++ b/src/commands/mv.rs
@@ -225,8 +225,8 @@ pub fn mv(args: CommandArgs, registry: &CommandRegistry) -> Result<OutputStream,
         if destination.exists() {
             if !sources.iter().all(|x| (x.as_ref().unwrap()).is_file()) {
                 return Err(ShellError::labeled_error(
-                    "Rename aborted (directories found).",
-                    "Rename aborted (directories found).",
+                    "Rename aborted (directories found). Renaming in patterns not supported yet (try moving the directory directly)",
+                    "Rename aborted (directories found). Renaming in patterns not supported yet (try moving the directory directly)",
                     args.nth(0).unwrap().span(),
                 ));
             }