diff --git a/type/__dma_auth/gencode-remote b/type/__dma_auth/gencode-remote
index 46d9f31..c57e5cc 100755
--- a/type/__dma_auth/gencode-remote
+++ b/type/__dma_auth/gencode-remote
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ in
 		printf 'delete authuser %s on %s\n' "${login}" "${server}" >>"${__messages_out}"
 		;;
 	(*)
-		printf 'Invalid --state: %s' "${state_should}" >&2
+		printf 'Invalid --state: %s.\n' "${state_should}" >&2
+		printf 'Acceptable values are: present, absent.\n' >&2
 		exit 1
 		;;
 esac
diff --git a/type/__mail_alias/gencode-remote b/type/__mail_alias/gencode-remote
index f4cbf46..22ae89b 100755
--- a/type/__mail_alias/gencode-remote
+++ b/type/__mail_alias/gencode-remote
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ in
 		mode=0
 		;;
 	(*)
-		printf 'Invalid --state given: %s\n' "$state_should" >&2
+		printf 'Invalid --state: %s.\n' "$state_should" >&2
+		printf 'Acceptable values are: present, absent.\n' >&2
 		exit 1
 esac