diff --git a/lib_environment_checker.py b/lib_environment_checker.py
index 85f7dc3..2e6cf06 100644
--- a/lib_environment_checker.py
+++ b/lib_environment_checker.py
@@ -129,8 +129,8 @@ def check_git_status(project_path: Path, project_email_addresses: list[list[str,
     ## check for uncommitted changes --------------------------
     call_result: tuple[bool, dict] = lib_git_handler.run_git_status(project_path)
     (ok, output) = call_result
-    if 'nothing to commit, working tree clean' not in output['stdout']:
-        message = 'Error: Uncommitted changes found.'
+    if 'working tree clean' not in output['stdout']:
+        message = 'Error: git-status check failed.'
         log.exception(message)
         ## email project sys-admins ---------------------------------
         emailer = Emailer(project_path)
diff --git a/tests.py b/tests.py
index 74660a1..9cc9b84 100644
--- a/tests.py
+++ b/tests.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def test_git_status_clean(self):
 
     def test_git_status_not_clean(self):
         """
-        Checks that `Changes not staged for commit` is detected properly.
+        Checks that various non-"clean" states are detected properly.
         Assumes current-project is on branch `main`.
         """
         target_dir = Path('../git_tests/check_changes_not_staged/').resolve()