diff --git a/cli/src/commands/split.rs b/cli/src/commands/split.rs
index 496172dac6..e3cf845028 100644
--- a/cli/src/commands/split.rs
+++ b/cli/src/commands/split.rs
@@ -118,8 +118,7 @@ the operation will be aborted.
         // The user selected nothing, so the first commit will be empty.
         writeln!(
             ui.warning_default(),
-            "The given paths do not match any file: {}",
-            args.paths.join(" ")
+            "No changes have been selected, so the first commit will be empty"
         )?;
     }
 
diff --git a/cli/tests/test_split_command.rs b/cli/tests/test_split_command.rs
index 376a53844f..99883fb787 100644
--- a/cli/tests/test_split_command.rs
+++ b/cli/tests/test_split_command.rs
@@ -129,14 +129,14 @@ fn test_split_by_paths() {
     test_env.set_up_fake_editor();
     let (stdout, stderr) = test_env.jj_cmd_ok(&repo_path, &["split", "-r", "@-", "nonexistent"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stdout, @"");
-    insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
-    Warning: The given paths do not match any file: nonexistent
+    insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r#"
+    Warning: No changes have been selected, so the first commit will be empty
     Rebased 1 descendant commits
     First part: qpvuntsm bd42f95a (empty) (no description set)
     Second part: lylxulpl ed55c86b (no description set)
     Working copy now at: zsuskuln 1e1ed741 (no description set)
     Parent commit      : lylxulpl ed55c86b (no description set)
-    "###);
+    "#);
 
     insta::assert_snapshot!(get_log_output(&test_env, &repo_path), @r###"
     @  zsuskulnrvyr false