diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_sqlpp.xml b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_sqlpp.xml
index 3abfdd6..b6db158 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_sqlpp.xml
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_sqlpp.xml
@@ -14186,7 +14186,7 @@
     <test-case FilePath="meta">
       <compilation-unit name="meta_after_gby">
         <output-dir compare="Text">meta_after_gby</output-dir>
-        <expected-error>Compilation error: Inappropriate use of function 'meta'. For example, after GROUP BY (in line 29, at column 21)</expected-error>
+        <expected-error>Compilation error: No source collection found for META(): collection not supported or cannot reference collection (in line 29, at column 21)</expected-error>
       </compilation-unit>
     </test-case>
     <test-case FilePath="meta">
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_sqlpp_profiled.xml b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_sqlpp_profiled.xml
index c22d6d0..1972596 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_sqlpp_profiled.xml
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_sqlpp_profiled.xml
@@ -13994,7 +13994,7 @@
     <test-case FilePath="meta">
       <compilation-unit name="meta_after_gby">
         <output-dir compare="Text">meta_after_gby</output-dir>
-        <expected-error>Compilation error: Inappropriate use of function 'meta'. For example, after GROUP BY (in line 29, at column 21)</expected-error>
+        <expected-error>Compilation error: No source collection found for META(): collection not supported or cannot reference collection (in line 29, at column 21)</expected-error>
       </compilation-unit>
     </test-case>
     <test-case FilePath="meta">
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/runtime/functions/FunctionManager.java b/asterixdb/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/runtime/functions/FunctionManager.java
index 7158558..d58eeeb 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/runtime/functions/FunctionManager.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/runtime/functions/FunctionManager.java
@@ -65,9 +65,11 @@
         Pair<FunctionIdentifier, Integer> key = new Pair<>(fid, fid.getArity());
         IFunctionDescriptorFactory factory = functions.get(key);
         if (factory == null) {
-            String msg = "Inappropriate use of function '" + fid.getName() + "'";
+            String msg;
             if (fid.equals(BuiltinFunctions.META)) {
-                msg = msg + ". For example, after GROUP BY";
+                msg = "No source collection found for META(): collection not supported or cannot reference collection";
+            } else {
+                msg = "Could not resolve function '" + fid.getName() + "'";
             }
             throw AsterixException.create(ErrorCode.COMPILATION_ERROR, src, msg);
         }