diff --git a/ci/github-script/prepare.ts b/ci/github-script/prepare.ts
index be08c09ee525..3425744d4853 100644
--- a/ci/github-script/prepare.ts
+++ b/ci/github-script/prepare.ts
@@ -57,11 +57,10 @@ export default async ({
 
     if (baseClassification.type.includes('channel')) {
       const { stable, version } = baseClassification
-      const correctBranch = stable ? `release-${version}` : 'master'
       const body = [
         'The `nixos-*` and `nixpkgs-*` branches are pushed to by the channel release script and should not be merged into directly.',
         '',
-        `Please target \`${correctBranch}\` instead.`,
+        `Make sure you know the [right base branch for your changes](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md#branch-conventions), then target the correct branch (probably \`release-${stable ? version : '*'}\` or \`master\`) instead.`,
       ].join('\n')
 
       await postReview({ github, context, core, dry, body, reviewKey })