diff --git a/lib/frontmatter.js b/lib/frontmatter.js
index 3c749810b9..6d51a066d6 100644
--- a/lib/frontmatter.js
+++ b/lib/frontmatter.js
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ function getValidProps(versionObj) {
   // If a version has an exception pattern, both '*' and the exception pattern are valid.
   if (versionObj.allowedFrontmatterPattern) {
     valid.pattern = new RegExp(`${asteriskPattern.source}|${versionObj.allowedFrontmatterPattern}`)
-    valid.message = `Must have a value of '*' or ${versionObj.allowedFrontmatterPattern}`
+    valid.message = `Must have a value of '*' or 'issue-###', where ### is an integer`
   }
 
   // If a version has numbered releases, any semver range is valid. Note '*' is a valid semver range.