diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/ClusterFormationFailureHelper.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/ClusterFormationFailureHelper.java
index 79142ec07c1d1..dc6de08f74c6b 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/ClusterFormationFailureHelper.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/ClusterFormationFailureHelper.java
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ String getDescription() {
 
                 if (INITIAL_MASTER_NODE_COUNT_SETTING.get(Settings.EMPTY).equals(INITIAL_MASTER_NODE_COUNT_SETTING.get(settings))
                     && INITIAL_MASTER_NODES_SETTING.get(Settings.EMPTY).equals(INITIAL_MASTER_NODES_SETTING.get(settings))) {
-                    bootstrappingDescription = "cluster bootstrapping is disabled on this node";
+                    bootstrappingDescription = "[" + INITIAL_MASTER_NODES_SETTING.getKey() + "] is empty on this node";
                 } else if (INITIAL_MASTER_NODES_SETTING.get(Settings.EMPTY).equals(INITIAL_MASTER_NODES_SETTING.get(settings))) {
                     bootstrappingDescription = String.format(Locale.ROOT,
                         "this node must discover at least [%d] master-eligible nodes to bootstrap a cluster",
diff --git a/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/ClusterFormationFailureHelperTests.java b/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/ClusterFormationFailureHelperTests.java
index 40b15709fb730..f17e80c2a16aa 100644
--- a/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/ClusterFormationFailureHelperTests.java
+++ b/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/ClusterFormationFailureHelperTests.java
@@ -156,20 +156,20 @@ public void testDescriptionBeforeBootstrapping() {
 
         assertThat(new ClusterFormationState(Settings.EMPTY, clusterState, emptyList(), emptyList()).getDescription(),
             is("master not discovered yet, this node has not previously joined a bootstrapped (v7+) cluster, and " +
-                "cluster bootstrapping is disabled on this node: have discovered []; " +
+                "[cluster.initial_master_nodes] is empty on this node: have discovered []; " +
                 "discovery will continue using [] from hosts providers and [" + localNode + "] from last-known cluster state"));
 
         final TransportAddress otherAddress = buildNewFakeTransportAddress();
         assertThat(new ClusterFormationState(Settings.EMPTY, clusterState, singletonList(otherAddress), emptyList()).getDescription(),
             is("master not discovered yet, this node has not previously joined a bootstrapped (v7+) cluster, and " +
-                "cluster bootstrapping is disabled on this node: have discovered []; " +
+                "[cluster.initial_master_nodes] is empty on this node: have discovered []; " +
                 "discovery will continue using [" + otherAddress + "] from hosts providers and [" + localNode +
                 "] from last-known cluster state"));
 
         final DiscoveryNode otherNode = new DiscoveryNode("other", buildNewFakeTransportAddress(), Version.CURRENT);
         assertThat(new ClusterFormationState(Settings.EMPTY, clusterState, emptyList(), singletonList(otherNode)).getDescription(),
             is("master not discovered yet, this node has not previously joined a bootstrapped (v7+) cluster, and " +
-                "cluster bootstrapping is disabled on this node: have discovered [" + otherNode + "]; " +
+                "[cluster.initial_master_nodes] is empty on this node: have discovered [" + otherNode + "]; " +
                 "discovery will continue using [] from hosts providers and [" + localNode + "] from last-known cluster state"));
 
         assertThat(new ClusterFormationState(Settings.builder().put(INITIAL_MASTER_NODE_COUNT_SETTING.getKey(), 2).build(),