diff --git a/src/tools/impl/verapdf.ts b/src/tools/impl/verapdf.ts
index cdf6423383..d45f1b95e8 100644
--- a/src/tools/impl/verapdf.ts
+++ b/src/tools/impl/verapdf.ts
@@ -34,14 +34,22 @@ const kVersionFileName = "version";
 export const verapdfInstallable: InstallableTool = {
   name: "VeraPDF",
   prereqs: [{
-    check: async () => {
+    check: async (context) => {
       const javaVersion = await getJavaVersion();
+      context.props.javaVersion = javaVersion;
       return javaVersion !== undefined &&
         kSupportedJavaVersions.includes(javaVersion);
     },
     os: ["darwin", "linux", "windows"],
-    message:
-      `Java is not installed or version is not supported. veraPDF requires Java 8, 11, 17, or 21.`,
+    message: (context) => {
+      const javaVersion = context.props.javaVersion as number | undefined;
+      const supportedVersions = kSupportedJavaVersions.join(", ");
+      if (javaVersion === undefined) {
+        return `Java is not installed. veraPDF requires Java ${supportedVersions}.`;
+      } else {
+        return `Java ${javaVersion} is installed but not supported. veraPDF requires Java ${supportedVersions}.`;
+      }
+    },
   }],
   installed,
   installDir,
diff --git a/src/tools/tools.ts b/src/tools/tools.ts
index b8c59d6abe..b15f482ead 100644
--- a/src/tools/tools.ts
+++ b/src/tools/tools.ts
@@ -136,7 +136,10 @@ export async function installTool(name: string, updatePath?: boolean) {
           for (const prereq of platformPrereqs) {
             const met = await prereq.check(context);
             if (!met) {
-              context.error(prereq.message);
+              const message = typeof prereq.message === "function"
+                ? await prereq.message(context)
+                : prereq.message;
+              context.error(message);
               Deno.exit(1);
             }
           }
diff --git a/src/tools/types.ts b/src/tools/types.ts
index f6e23c2d38..265d47465d 100644
--- a/src/tools/types.ts
+++ b/src/tools/types.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export interface InstallableTool {
 export interface InstallPreReq {
   check: (context: InstallContext) => Promise<boolean>;
   os: string[];
-  message: string;
+  message: string | ((context: InstallContext) => string | Promise<string>);
 }
 
 // Locally accessible Package information