--- src/cmd7.c.orig	2005-12-17 00:09:18.000000000 -0500
+++ src/cmd7.c	2005-12-17 00:17:52.000000000 -0500
@@ -1963,6 +1963,11 @@
 	char out_val[160];
 	char choice = 0;
 	bool lockpval = FALSE;
+	int lockpval_which = -1;
+	int lockpval_reason = 0;
+	static char *lockpval_reasons[2] = {
+		"don't know how", "aren't skilled enough"
+	};
 	int pval;
 	int oldpval;
 	energy_use = 100;
@@ -2020,7 +2025,14 @@
 			/* If this item has an ability that depends on pval which the player
 			 * cannot set, don't allow them to change the pval either. */
 			if ( a_select_flags[i].pval && flags_select[i])
+			{
 				lockpval = TRUE;
+				if (lockpval_which < 0)
+				{
+					lockpval_which = i;
+					lockpval_reason = 0;
+				}
+			}
 
 			/* Set the color and set-ablitity of this flag */
 			if ( flags_select[i] )
@@ -2034,8 +2046,15 @@
 			/* If the alchemist has not passed the skill level for this flag,
 			 Set this flag as unsettable.
 			 */
-			if ( flags_select[i])
+			if ( a_select_flags[i].pval && flags_select[i])
+			{
 				lockpval = TRUE;
+				if (lockpval_which < 0)
+				{
+					lockpval_which = i;
+					lockpval_reason = 1;
+				}
+			}
 			else
 				flags_select[i] = -4;
 		}
@@ -2144,7 +2163,9 @@
 				{
 					if ( lockpval )
 					{
-						msg_print("You cannot do that - you don't know how!");
+						msg_format("You %s to increase '%s'",
+							   lockpval_reasons[lockpval_reason],
+							   al_name + a_select_flags[lockpval_which].desc);
 						continue;
 					}
 					if (q_ptr->exp - exp < 0)
@@ -2159,7 +2180,9 @@
 				{
 					if ( lockpval )
 					{
-						msg_print("You cannot do that - you don't know how!");
+						msg_format("You %s to decrease '%s'",
+							   lockpval_reasons[lockpval_reason],
+							   al_name + a_select_flags[lockpval_which].desc);
 						continue;
 					}
 					pval--;