diff --git a/pkg/cmd/repo/sync/sync.go b/pkg/cmd/repo/sync/sync.go
index eebec4389..1f734b543 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/repo/sync/sync.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/repo/sync/sync.go
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ func executeLocalRepoSync(srcRepo ghrepo.Interface, remote string, opts *SyncOpt
 	}
 	if currentBranch == branch {
 		if isDirty, err := git.IsDirty(); err == nil && isDirty {
-			return fmt.Errorf("can't sync because there are local changes; please stash them before trying again")
+			return fmt.Errorf("refusing to sync due to uncommitted/untracked local changes\ntip: use `git stash --all` before retrying the sync and run `git stash pop` afterwards")
 		} else if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/repo/sync/sync_test.go b/pkg/cmd/repo/sync/sync_test.go
index 9e7e5b5b1..90a216607 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/repo/sync/sync_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/repo/sync/sync_test.go
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ func Test_SyncRun(t *testing.T) {
 				mgc.On("IsDirty").Return(true, nil).Once()
 			},
 			wantErr: true,
-			errMsg:  "can't sync because there are local changes; please stash them before trying again",
+			errMsg:  "refusing to sync due to uncommitted/untracked local changes\ntip: use `git stash --all` before retrying the sync and run `git stash pop` afterwards",
 		},
 		{
 			name: "sync local repo with parent - existing branch, non-current",