diff --git a/osc/gitea_api/conf.py b/osc/gitea_api/conf.py
index 98d19ee9..d5c861f3 100644
--- a/osc/gitea_api/conf.py
+++ b/osc/gitea_api/conf.py
@@ -35,9 +35,13 @@ class Login(BaseModel):
 
         def __str__(self):
             if self.kwargs == {"name": None}:
-                return "Could not find a default Gitea config entry"
+                return \
+                    "Could not find a default Gitea config entry\n" \
+                    " * either set the default entry by running `git-obs login edit <login> --set-as-default`\n" \
+                    " * or run the command with `-G/--gitea-login <login>` option"
             kwargs_str = ", ".join([f"{key}={value}" for key, value in self.kwargs.items()])
-            return f"Could not find a matching Gitea config entry: {kwargs_str}"
+            return f"Could not find a matching Gitea config entry: {kwargs_str}\n" \
+                " * see `git-obs login list` for valid entries"
 
     def __init__(self, **kwargs):
         # ignore extra fields