diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index b5c62a2d..1808f151 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ Changes since 3.0.3:
       user specify the --protocol=29 option to access an overly-restrictive
       server that is rejecting the protocol-30 use of -e to the server.
 
+    - Improved the message output for an RERR_PARTIAL exit.
+
   DEVELOPER RELATED:
 
     - The Makefile will not halt for just a timestamp change on the Makefile
diff --git a/log.c b/log.c
index 388bc462..2dfa1275 100644
--- a/log.c
+++ b/log.c
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ struct {
 	{ RERR_SIGNAL     , "received SIGINT, SIGTERM, or SIGHUP" },
 	{ RERR_WAITCHILD  , "waitpid() failed" },
 	{ RERR_MALLOC     , "error allocating core memory buffers" },
-	{ RERR_PARTIAL    , "some files could not be transferred" },
+	{ RERR_PARTIAL    , "some files/attrs were not transferred (see previous errors)" },
 	{ RERR_VANISHED   , "some files vanished before they could be transferred" },
 	{ RERR_TIMEOUT    , "timeout in data send/receive" },
 	{ RERR_CONTIMEOUT , "timeout waiting for daemon connection" },