diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index 36911cc6ee..28a857950b 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ We adhere to the [keepachangelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/) format (
 * Added `skipLinesMatching` option to `licenseHeader` to support formats where license header cannot be immediately added to the top of the file (e.g. xml, sh). ([#1441](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/1441)).
 * Add YAML support through Jackson ([#1478](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/1478))
 * Added support for npm-based [ESLint](https://eslint.org/)-formatter for javascript and typescript ([#1453](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/1453))
+* Better suggested messages when user's default is set by JVM limitation. ([#995](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/995))
 ### Fixed
 * Support `ktlint` 0.48+ new rule disabling syntax ([#1456](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/1456)) fixes ([#1444](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/issues/1444))
-
 ### Changes
 * Bump default version for `prettier` from `2.0.5` to `2.8.1` ([#1453](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/1453))
 * Bump the dev version of Gradle from `7.5.1` to `7.6` ([#1409](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/1409))
diff --git a/lib/src/main/java/com/diffplug/spotless/Jvm.java b/lib/src/main/java/com/diffplug/spotless/Jvm.java
index 14686c1e4c..c9c71b72df 100644
--- a/lib/src/main/java/com/diffplug/spotless/Jvm.java
+++ b/lib/src/main/java/com/diffplug/spotless/Jvm.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2016-2022 DiffPlug
+ * Copyright 2016-2023 DiffPlug
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -198,8 +198,9 @@ private String buildUpgradeFormatterMessage(V fmtVersion) {
 			StringBuilder builder = new StringBuilder();
 			V recommendedFmtVersionOrNull = getRecommendedFormatterVersion();
 			if (null != recommendedFmtVersionOrNull && (fmtVersionComparator.compare(fmtVersion, recommendedFmtVersionOrNull) < 0)) {
-				builder.append(String.format("You are not using latest version on JVM %d+.%n", getRequiredJvmVersion(recommendedFmtVersionOrNull)));
-				builder.append(String.format("Try to upgrade to %s %s, which may have fixed this problem.", fmtName, getRecommendedFormatterVersion()));
+				builder.append(String.format("%s %s is currently being used, but outdated.%n", fmtName, fmtVersion));
+				builder.append(String.format("%s %s is the recommended version, which may have fixed this problem.%n", fmtName, recommendedFmtVersionOrNull));
+				builder.append(String.format("%s %s requires JVM %d+.", fmtName, recommendedFmtVersionOrNull, getRequiredJvmVersion(recommendedFmtVersionOrNull)));
 			} else {
 				V higherFormatterVersionOrNull = fmt2jvmVersion.higherKey(fmtVersion);
 				if (null != higherFormatterVersionOrNull) {
diff --git a/plugin-gradle/CHANGES.md b/plugin-gradle/CHANGES.md
index 7ca75d1b34..d8b9c26275 100644
--- a/plugin-gradle/CHANGES.md
+++ b/plugin-gradle/CHANGES.md
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ We adhere to the [keepachangelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/) format (
   * **POTENTIALLY BREAKING** `ktlint` step now modifies license headers. Make sure to put `licenseHeader` *after* `ktlint`.
 * Added `skipLinesMatching` option to `licenseHeader` to support formats where license header cannot be immediately added to the top of the file (e.g. xml, sh). ([#1441](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/1441))
 * Added support for npm-based [ESLint](https://eslint.org/) formatter for javascript and typescript ([#1453](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/1453))
+* Better suggested messages when user's default is set by JVM limitation. ([#995](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/995))
 ### Fixed
 * Prevent tool configurations from being resolved outside project ([#1447](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/1447) fixes [#1215](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/issues/1215))
 * Support `ktlint` 0.48+ new rule disabling syntax ([#1456](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/1456)) fixes ([#1444](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/issues/1444))
diff --git a/plugin-maven/CHANGES.md b/plugin-maven/CHANGES.md
index 2f95b164b9..03a2a0b018 100644
--- a/plugin-maven/CHANGES.md
+++ b/plugin-maven/CHANGES.md
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ We adhere to the [keepachangelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/) format (
 * Add JSON support ([#1446](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/1446))
 * Add YAML support through Jackson ([#1478](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/1478))
 * Added support for npm-based [ESLint](https://eslint.org/)-formatter for javascript and typescript ([#1453](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/1453))
+* Better suggested messages when user's default is set by JVM limitation. ([#995](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/995))
 ### Fixed
 * Support `ktlint` 0.48+ new rule disabling syntax ([#1456](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/1456)) fixes ([#1444](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/issues/1444))
 ### Changes
diff --git a/testlib/src/test/java/com/diffplug/spotless/JvmTest.java b/testlib/src/test/java/com/diffplug/spotless/JvmTest.java
index 2bb374d0ed..737c058b37 100644
--- a/testlib/src/test/java/com/diffplug/spotless/JvmTest.java
+++ b/testlib/src/test/java/com/diffplug/spotless/JvmTest.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2021 DiffPlug
+ * Copyright 2021-2023 DiffPlug
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -140,9 +140,9 @@ void supportProposesFormatterUpgrade() {
 					throw new Exception("Some test exception");
 				}).apply("");
 			}).getMessage();
-			assertThat(proposal).contains("not using latest version");
-			assertThat(proposal).contains(String.format("on JVM %d+", requiredJvm));
-			assertThat(proposal).contains(String.format("upgrade to %s %s", TEST_NAME, "2"));
+			assertThat(proposal).isEqualTo("My Test Formatter " + fmtVersion + " is currently being used, but outdated.\n" +
+					"My Test Formatter 2 is the recommended version, which may have fixed this problem.\n" +
+					"My Test Formatter 2 requires JVM 10+.");
 		}
 	}