diff --git a/openbis/source/java/ch/ethz/sis/openbis/generic/server/asapi/v3/helper/sort/SortAndPage.java b/openbis/source/java/ch/ethz/sis/openbis/generic/server/asapi/v3/helper/sort/SortAndPage.java
index efb786a551ea23631e15080c9d173aa292ff5052..82f4e3251993d2a2a3267c5a8fc514dd4f4b343d 100644
--- a/openbis/source/java/ch/ethz/sis/openbis/generic/server/asapi/v3/helper/sort/SortAndPage.java
+++ b/openbis/source/java/ch/ethz/sis/openbis/generic/server/asapi/v3/helper/sort/SortAndPage.java
@@ -178,7 +178,8 @@ public class SortAndPage {
                                 if (subFo.getSortBy() != null && subFo.getSortBy().getSortings() != null &&
                                         !subFo.getSortBy().getSortings().isEmpty())
                                 {
-                                    throw new IllegalArgumentException("Only collection and map types can be sorted.");
+                                    throw new IllegalArgumentException("Nested sort options can be used only "
+                                            + "for sorting nested collection or map types.");
                                 }
 
                                 Collection newValue = sortAndPage(Collections.singleton(value), c, subFo);