diff --git a/testkit/shared/src/main/scala/cats/effect/testkit/TestInstances.scala b/testkit/shared/src/main/scala/cats/effect/testkit/TestInstances.scala
index e85a143a3e..b481871fc1 100644
--- a/testkit/shared/src/main/scala/cats/effect/testkit/TestInstances.scala
+++ b/testkit/shared/src/main/scala/cats/effect/testkit/TestInstances.scala
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ trait TestInstances extends ParallelFGenerators with OutcomeGenerators with Sync
   }
 
   @implicitNotFound(
-    "could not find an instance of Ticker; try using `in ticked { implicit ticker =>`")
+    "could not find an instance of Ticker; try declaring one with `implicit val ticker: Ticker = Ticker()`")
   case class Ticker(ctx: TestContext = TestContext())
 }