diff --git a/repo/fsrepo/fsrepo.go b/repo/fsrepo/fsrepo.go
index 9c47b1660..d35a3525c 100644
--- a/repo/fsrepo/fsrepo.go
+++ b/repo/fsrepo/fsrepo.go
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ type NoRepoError struct {
 var _ error = NoRepoError{}
 
 func (err NoRepoError) Error() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("no ipfs repo found in %s. please run: ipfs init", err.Path)
+	return fmt.Sprintf("no ipfs repo found in %s.\nplease run: ipfs init", err.Path)
 }
 
 const (
diff --git a/test/sharness/t0020-init.sh b/test/sharness/t0020-init.sh
index 331fb7812..53141286f 100755
--- a/test/sharness/t0020-init.sh
+++ b/test/sharness/t0020-init.sh
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ test_expect_success "ipfs cat fails" '
 '
 
 test_expect_success "ipfs cat no repo message looks good" '
-    echo "Error: no ipfs repo found in $IPFS_PATH. please run: ipfs init" > cat_fail_exp &&
+    echo "Error: no ipfs repo found in $IPFS_PATH." > cat_fail_exp &&
+    echo "please run: ipfs init" >> cat_fail_exp &&
     test_cmp cat_fail_exp cat_fail_out
 '