diff --git a/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py b/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py
index ccad5f2eaa..4915fbd45f 100755
--- a/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py
@@ -1994,7 +1994,7 @@ def _setup_opener(self):
         file_handler = compat_urllib_request.FileHandler()
 
         def file_open(*args, **kwargs):
-            raise compat_urllib_error.URLError('file protocol is disabled')
+            raise compat_urllib_error.URLError('file:/// protocol is explicitly disabled in youtube-dl for security reasons')
         file_handler.file_open = file_open
 
         opener = compat_urllib_request.build_opener(