diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py
index c12bbaba..7a67bdea 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py
@@ -61,7 +61,8 @@ class App(Base):
                 if m is None:
                     raise Exception(
                         f'Can\'t interpret "{fmt}" as valid topdir reference, '
-                        'expecting "unaltered", "absolute", or "make:<variable-name>"'
+                        'expecting "absolute", "relative", "unaltered", '
+                        'or "make:<variable-name>"'
                     )
                 return '$(' + m.group(1) + ')'