diff --git a/pkg/kn/commands/service/configuration_edit_flags.go b/pkg/kn/commands/service/configuration_edit_flags.go
index f3241ba38..ebf31c5f0 100644
--- a/pkg/kn/commands/service/configuration_edit_flags.go
+++ b/pkg/kn/commands/service/configuration_edit_flags.go
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ func (p *ConfigurationEditFlags) Apply(
 
 		for key, value := range annotationServiceFlagMap {
 			if strings.HasPrefix(key, autoscaling.GroupName) {
-				return fmt.Errorf("Service cannot have annotation: %s", key)
+				return fmt.Errorf("service can not have auto-scaling related annotation: %s , please update using '--annotation-revision'", key)
 			}
 			serviceAnnotations[key] = value
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/kn/commands/service/create_mock_test.go b/pkg/kn/commands/service/create_mock_test.go
index 6e95ac8db..d62a38a56 100644
--- a/pkg/kn/commands/service/create_mock_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kn/commands/service/create_mock_test.go
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ func TestServiceCreateWithAutoScaleServiceAnnotationsError(t *testing.T) {
 		"--annotation-service", autoscaling.InitialScaleAnnotationKey+"=1",
 		"--no-wait", "--revision-name=")
 	assert.Assert(t, err != nil)
-	assert.Assert(t, util.ContainsAll(output, "Service cannot have annotation: autoscaling.knative.dev/initialScale"))
+	assert.Assert(t, util.ContainsAll(output, "service can not have auto-scaling related annotation", "autoscaling.knative.dev/initialScale"))
 
 	r.Validate()
 }