diff --git a/distribution/tools/plugin-cli/src/main/java/org/opensearch/plugins/InstallPluginCommand.java b/distribution/tools/plugin-cli/src/main/java/org/opensearch/plugins/InstallPluginCommand.java
index b404614ca435b..d6f619784c536 100644
--- a/distribution/tools/plugin-cli/src/main/java/org/opensearch/plugins/InstallPluginCommand.java
+++ b/distribution/tools/plugin-cli/src/main/java/org/opensearch/plugins/InstallPluginCommand.java
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ private String getMavenUrl(Terminal terminal, String[] coordinates, String platf
     boolean urlExists(Terminal terminal, String urlString) throws IOException {
         terminal.println(VERBOSE, "Checking if url exists: " + urlString);
         URL url = new URL(urlString);
-        assert "https".equals(url.getProtocol()) : "Only http urls can be checked";
+        assert "https".equals(url.getProtocol()) : "Use of https protocol is required";
         HttpURLConnection urlConnection = (HttpURLConnection) url.openConnection();
         urlConnection.addRequestProperty("User-Agent", "opensearch-plugin-installer");
         urlConnection.setRequestMethod("HEAD");