diff --git a/configs/configschema/coerce_value.go b/configs/configschema/coerce_value.go
index e6b163b9f..bae5733df 100644
--- a/configs/configschema/coerce_value.go
+++ b/configs/configschema/coerce_value.go
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ func (b *Block) coerceValue(in cty.Value, path cty.Path) (cty.Value, error) {
 					return cty.UnknownVal(b.ImpliedType()), path.NewErrorf("insufficient items for attribute %q; must have at least %d", typeName, blockS.MinItems)
 				}
 				if l > blockS.MaxItems && blockS.MaxItems > 0 {
-					return cty.UnknownVal(b.ImpliedType()), path.NewErrorf("too many items for attribute %q; must have at least %d", typeName, blockS.MinItems)
+					return cty.UnknownVal(b.ImpliedType()), path.NewErrorf("too many items for attribute %q; cannot have more than %d", typeName, blockS.MaxItems)
 				}
 				if l == 0 {
 					attrs[typeName] = cty.ListValEmpty(blockS.ImpliedType())
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ func (b *Block) coerceValue(in cty.Value, path cty.Path) (cty.Value, error) {
 					return cty.UnknownVal(b.ImpliedType()), path.NewErrorf("insufficient items for attribute %q; must have at least %d", typeName, blockS.MinItems)
 				}
 				if l > blockS.MaxItems && blockS.MaxItems > 0 {
-					return cty.UnknownVal(b.ImpliedType()), path.NewErrorf("too many items for attribute %q; must have at least %d", typeName, blockS.MinItems)
+					return cty.UnknownVal(b.ImpliedType()), path.NewErrorf("too many items for attribute %q; cannot have more than %d", typeName, blockS.MaxItems)
 				}
 				if l == 0 {
 					attrs[typeName] = cty.SetValEmpty(blockS.ImpliedType())