diff --git a/cime_config/buildlib b/cime_config/buildlib
index bf823e9e2e..73db5db3dd 100755
--- a/cime_config/buildlib
+++ b/cime_config/buildlib
@@ -91,8 +91,7 @@ def _build_cam(caseroot, libroot, bldroot):
         # -------------------------------------------------------
         if cam_dycore == "fv3":
             libfms = os.path.join(fmsbuilddir, "libfms.a")
-            expect(os.path.isfile(libfms),
-               "err: Missing the FMS library libfms.a - cannot complete CAM build")
+            expect(os.path.isfile(libfms), "FMS library not found {}".format(libfms))
             shutil.copy(libfms, libroot)
 
         # -------------------------------------------------------