diff --git a/mypyc/irbuild/prepare.py b/mypyc/irbuild/prepare.py
index 2399647374c07..d42e35561d06f 100644
--- a/mypyc/irbuild/prepare.py
+++ b/mypyc/irbuild/prepare.py
@@ -301,7 +301,11 @@ def prepare_class_def(
     # Set up the parent class
     bases = [mapper.type_to_ir[base.type] for base in info.bases if base.type in mapper.type_to_ir]
     if not all(c.is_trait for c in bases[1:]):
-        errors.error("Non-trait bases must appear first in parent list", path, cdef.line)
+        errors.error(
+            "Multiple inheritance is not currently supported (except for traits)",
+            path,
+            cdef.line,
+        )
     ir.traits = [c for c in bases if c.is_trait]
 
     mro = []
diff --git a/mypyc/test-data/commandline.test b/mypyc/test-data/commandline.test
index 6612df9e18861..9a081fbfdaa60 100644
--- a/mypyc/test-data/commandline.test
+++ b/mypyc/test-data/commandline.test
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ class Trait2(Concrete2):
 class NonExt(Concrete1):  # E: Non-extension classes may not inherit from extension classes
     pass
 
-class Nope(Trait1, Concrete2):  # E: Non-trait bases must appear first in parent list  # E: Non-trait MRO must be linear
+class Nope(Trait1, Concrete2):  # E: Multiple inheritance is not currently supported (except for traits)  # E: Non-trait MRO must be linear
     pass
 
 @decorator