diff --git a/core/src/processing/core/PApplet.java b/core/src/processing/core/PApplet.java
index 17725d228..31d1de4f6 100644
--- a/core/src/processing/core/PApplet.java
+++ b/core/src/processing/core/PApplet.java
@@ -6179,8 +6179,7 @@ public class PApplet implements PConstants {
   public PFont createFont(String name, float size,
                           boolean smooth, char[] charset) {
     if (g == null) {
-      System.err.println("The sketch is not initialized yet.");
-      throw new RuntimeException("Fonts must be created inside setup() or after it has been called.");
+      throw new RuntimeException("createFont() can only be used inside setup() or after setup() has been called.");
     }
     return g.createFont(name, size, smooth, charset);
   }