diff --git a/irc/config.go b/irc/config.go
index 0a689026..9ba19a5f 100644
--- a/irc/config.go
+++ b/irc/config.go
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ func LoadConfig(filename string) (config *Config, err error) {
 		}
 	}
 	if config.Limits.LineLen.Tags < 512 || config.Limits.LineLen.Rest < 512 {
-		return nil, errors.New("Line length must be 512 or greater")
+		return nil, errors.New("Line lengths must be 512 or greater (check the linelen section under server->limits)")
 	}
 
 	return config, nil
diff --git a/oragono.yaml b/oragono.yaml
index 9885298e..9dd29dcf 100644
--- a/oragono.yaml
+++ b/oragono.yaml
@@ -204,6 +204,7 @@ limits:
     chan-list-modes: 60
 
     # maximum length of IRC lines
+    # this should generally be 1024-2048, and will only apply when negotiated by clients
     linelen:
         # tags section
         tags: 2048