diff --git a/shorten.c b/shorten.c
index d410e38..72b267b 100644
--- a/shorten.c
+++ b/shorten.c
@@ -114,8 +114,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 
     // Beginning of file?
     if (lseek(fd, 0, SEEK_CUR) == 0) {
-      printf("No change: file does not end with a newline\n");
-      return 1;
+      printf("No change: requested removal would leave empty file\n");
+      return 3;
     }
   }