diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2020-06-05-20-00-18.bpo-40876.zDhiZj.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2020-06-05-20-00-18.bpo-40876.zDhiZj.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..75f62ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2020-06-05-20-00-18.bpo-40876.zDhiZj.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Clarify error message in the :mod:`csv` module.
diff --git a/Modules/_csv.c b/Modules/_csv.c
index f33733a..7e44419 100644
--- a/Modules/_csv.c
+++ b/Modules/_csv.c
@@ -810,7 +810,7 @@
             PyErr_Format(_csvstate_global->error_obj,
                          "iterator should return strings, "
                          "not %.200s "
-                         "(did you open the file in text mode?)",
+                         "(the file should be opened in text mode)",
                          Py_TYPE(lineobj)->tp_name
                 );
             Py_DECREF(lineobj);