diff --git a/lib/jekyll/commands/new.rb b/lib/jekyll/commands/new.rb
index 3947ce43..b1230156 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll/commands/new.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll/commands/new.rb
@@ -27,8 +27,9 @@ module Jekyll
           new_blog_path = File.expand_path(args.join(" "), Dir.pwd)
           FileUtils.mkdir_p new_blog_path
           if preserve_source_location?(new_blog_path, options)
-            Jekyll.logger.abort_with "Conflict:",
-                      "#{new_blog_path} exists and is not empty."
+            Jekyll.logger.error "Conflict:", "#{new_blog_path} exists and is not empty."
+            Jekyll.logger.abort_with "", "Ensure #{new_blog_path} is empty or else " \
+                      "try again with `--force` to proceed and overwrite any files."
           end
 
           if options["blank"]