diff --git a/prometheus_client/metrics.py b/prometheus_client/metrics.py
index ef2e23fa..24f323d5 100644
--- a/prometheus_client/metrics.py
+++ b/prometheus_client/metrics.py
@@ -63,10 +63,7 @@ def _raise_if_not_observable(self):
         # a counter, will fail if the metric is not observable, because only if a
         # metric is observable will the value be initialized.
         if not self._is_observable():
-            raise ValueError(
-                '%s metric is not observable. This is likely because the metric requires '
-                'that labels be applied before performing the operation' % str(self._type)
-            )
+            raise ValueError('%s metric is missing label values' % str(self._type))
 
     def _is_parent(self):
         return self._labelnames and not self._labelvalues
@@ -249,11 +246,8 @@ def _metric_init(self):
 
     def inc(self, amount=1):
         """Increment counter by the given amount."""
-        self._raise_if_not_observable()
-
         if amount < 0:
             raise ValueError('Counters can only be incremented by non-negative amounts.')
-
         self._value.inc(amount)
 
     def count_exceptions(self, exception=Exception):
diff --git a/tests/test_core.py b/tests/test_core.py
index 6fe290e1..0b6c39a4 100644
--- a/tests/test_core.py
+++ b/tests/test_core.py
@@ -76,15 +76,7 @@ def test_count_exceptions_not_observable(self):
         try:
             counter.count_exceptions()
         except ValueError as e:
-            self.assertIn('metric is not observable', str(e))
-
-    def test_inc_not_observable(self):
-        counter = Counter('counter', 'help', labelnames=('label',), registry=self.registry)
-
-        try:
-            counter.count_exceptions()
-        except ValueError as e:
-            self.assertIn('metric is not observable', str(e))
+            self.assertIn('missing label values', str(e))
 
 
 class TestGauge(unittest.TestCase):