diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 69ac78d..671721c 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -847,21 +847,19 @@ static int prepare_to_commit(const char *index_file, const char *prefix,
 			if (cleanup_mode == COMMIT_MSG_CLEANUP_SCISSORS &&
 				!merge_contains_scissors)
 				wt_status_add_cut_line(s->fp);
-			status_printf_ln(s, GIT_COLOR_NORMAL,
-			    whence == FROM_MERGE
-				? _("\n"
-					"It looks like you may be committing a merge.\n"
-					"If this is not correct, please remove the file\n"
-					"	%s\n"
-					"and try again.\n")
-				: _("\n"
-					"It looks like you may be committing a cherry-pick.\n"
-					"If this is not correct, please remove the file\n"
-					"	%s\n"
-					"and try again.\n"),
+			status_printf_ln(
+				s, GIT_COLOR_NORMAL,
 				whence == FROM_MERGE ?
-					git_path_merge_head(the_repository) :
-					git_path_cherry_pick_head(the_repository));
+					      _("\n"
+					  "It looks like you may be committing a merge.\n"
+					  "If this is not correct, please run\n"
+					  "	git update-ref -d MERGE_HEAD\n"
+					  "and try again.\n") :
+					      _("\n"
+					  "It looks like you may be committing a cherry-pick.\n"
+					  "If this is not correct, please run\n"
+					  "	git update-ref -d CHERRY_PICK_HEAD\n"
+					  "and try again.\n"));
 		}
 
 		fprintf(s->fp, "\n");