diff --git a/charts/partials/templates/_proxy-init.tpl b/charts/partials/templates/_proxy-init.tpl
index 320e46d7ce166..5e513dd220ea3 100644
--- a/charts/partials/templates/_proxy-init.tpl
+++ b/charts/partials/templates/_proxy-init.tpl
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ args:
 {{- end }}
 {{- if .Values.proxyInit.closeWaitTimeoutSecs }}
   {{- if not .Values.proxyInit.runAsRoot }}
-{{ fail "if proxyInit.closeWaitTimeoutSecs is modified, then proxyInit.runAsRoot must be true" }}
+{{ fail "proxyInit.runAsRoot must be set to use proxyInit.closeWaitTimeoutSecs" }}
   {{- end }}
 - --timeout-close-wait-secs
 - {{ .Values.proxyInit.closeWaitTimeoutSecs | quote}}