diff --git a/community/security/src/main/java/org/neo4j/commandline/admin/security/SetInitialPasswordCommand.java b/community/security/src/main/java/org/neo4j/commandline/admin/security/SetInitialPasswordCommand.java
index 68bd8ec085796..74194ae435c0a 100644
--- a/community/security/src/main/java/org/neo4j/commandline/admin/security/SetInitialPasswordCommand.java
+++ b/community/security/src/main/java/org/neo4j/commandline/admin/security/SetInitialPasswordCommand.java
@@ -81,9 +81,13 @@ public void execute( String[] args ) throws IncorrectUsage, CommandFailed
     private void setPassword( String password ) throws Throwable
     {
         Config config = loadNeo4jConfig();
-        if ( realUsersExist( config ) )
+        File authFile = CommunitySecurityModule.getUserRepositoryFile( config );
+
+        if ( realUsersExist( authFile ) )
         {
-            throw new CommandFailed( "initial password was not set because live Neo4j-users were detected." );
+            throw new CommandFailed( "the provided initial password was not set because existing Neo4j users were detected at `" +
+                    authFile.getAbsolutePath() + "`. Please remove the existing `auth` and `roles` files if you want to reset your database " +
+                    "to only have a default user with the provided password." );
         }
         else
         {
@@ -107,9 +111,8 @@ private void setPassword( String password ) throws Throwable
         }
     }
 
-    private boolean realUsersExist( Config config )
+    private boolean realUsersExist( File authFile )
     {
-        File authFile = CommunitySecurityModule.getUserRepositoryFile( config );
         return outsideWorld.fileSystem().fileExists( authFile );
     }
 
diff --git a/community/security/src/test/java/org/neo4j/commandline/admin/security/SetInitialPasswordCommandIT.java b/community/security/src/test/java/org/neo4j/commandline/admin/security/SetInitialPasswordCommandIT.java
index f87a5150b1408..3b1057d8cf47f 100644
--- a/community/security/src/test/java/org/neo4j/commandline/admin/security/SetInitialPasswordCommandIT.java
+++ b/community/security/src/test/java/org/neo4j/commandline/admin/security/SetInitialPasswordCommandIT.java
@@ -151,7 +151,9 @@ public void shouldErrorIfRealUsersAlreadyExist() throws Throwable
         // Then
         assertNoAuthIniFile();
         verify( out, times( 1 ) )
-                .stdErrLine( "command failed: initial password was not set because live Neo4j-users were detected." );
+                .stdErrLine( "command failed: the provided initial password was not set because existing Neo4j users were " +
+                        "detected at `" + authFile.getAbsolutePath() + "`. Please remove the existing `auth` and `roles` files if you " +
+                        "want to reset your database to only have a default user with the provided password." );
         verify( out ).exit( 1 );
         verify( out, times( 0 ) ).stdOutLine( anyString() );
     }