diff --git a/h2o-py/h2o/backend/cluster.py b/h2o-py/h2o/backend/cluster.py
index 6985c644e3c4..7c9338dd6757 100644
--- a/h2o-py/h2o/backend/cluster.py
+++ b/h2o-py/h2o/backend/cluster.py
@@ -218,16 +218,19 @@ def check_version(self, strict=False):
             if build_number_h2o is None or build_number_h2o == "unknown":
                 message = ("Version mismatch. H2O is version {0}, but the h2o-python package is version {1}. "
                            "Upgrade H2O and h2o-Python to latest stable version - "
-                           "http://h2o-release.s3.amazonaws.com/h2o/latest_stable.html"
+                           "http://h2o-release.s3.amazonaws.com/h2o/latest_stable.html.  To avoid this error "
+                           "message (not recommended), you can set strict_version_check=False."
                            ).format(ver_h2o, ver_pkg)
             elif build_number_h2o == "99999":
                 message = ("Version mismatch. H2O is version {0}, but the h2o-python package is version {1}. "
-                           "This is a developer build, please contact your developer."
+                           "This is a developer build, please contact your developer.  To avoid this error "
+                           "message (not recommended), you can set strict_version_check=False."
                            ).format(ver_h2o, ver_pkg)
             else:
                 message = ("Version mismatch. H2O is version {0}, but the h2o-python package is version {1}. "
                            "Install the matching h2o-Python version from - "
-                           "http://h2o-release.s3.amazonaws.com/h2o/{2}/{3}/index.html."
+                           "http://h2o-release.s3.amazonaws.com/h2o/{2}/{3}/index.html.  To avoid this error "
+                           "message (not recommended), you can set strict_version_check=False."
                            ).format(ver_h2o, ver_pkg, branch_name_h2o, build_number_h2o)
             if strict:
                 raise H2OConnectionError(message)
diff --git a/h2o-r/h2o-package/R/connection.R b/h2o-r/h2o-package/R/connection.R
index 7e7d89519998..5c924c040d3a 100755
--- a/h2o-r/h2o-package/R/connection.R
+++ b/h2o-r/h2o-package/R/connection.R
@@ -261,18 +261,22 @@ h2o.init <- function(ip = "localhost", port = 54321, name = NA_character_, start
 
       if( is.null( build_number_H2O ) ){
         stop(sprintf("Version mismatch! H2O is running version %s but h2o-R package is version %s.
-        Upgrade H2O and R to latest stable version - https://h2o-release.s3.amazonaws.com/h2o/latest_stable.html",
+        Upgrade H2O and R to latest stable version - https://h2o-release.s3.amazonaws.com/h2o/latest_stable.html.  
+        To avoid this error message (not recommended), you can set strict_version_check=FALSE.",
         verH2O, toString(verPkg)))
       } else if (build_number_H2O =="unknown"){
         stop(sprintf("Version mismatch! H2O is running version %s but h2o-R package is version %s.
-        Upgrade H2O and R to latest stable version - https://h2o-release.s3.amazonaws.com/h2o/latest_stable.html",
+        Upgrade H2O and R to latest stable version - https://h2o-release.s3.amazonaws.com/h2o/latest_stable.html. 
+         To avoid this error message (not recommended), you can set strict_version_check=FALSE.",
         verH2O, toString(verPkg)))
       } else if (build_number_H2O =="99999"){
         stop((sprintf("Version mismatch! H2O is running version %s but h2o-R package is version %s.
-        This is a developer build, please contact your developer",verH2O, toString(verPkg) )))
+        This is a developer build, please contact your developer.  To avoid this error message (not recommended),
+         you can set strict_version_check=FALSE.",verH2O, toString(verPkg) )))
       } else {
          stop(sprintf("Version mismatch! H2O is running version %s but h2o-R package is version %s.
-         Install the matching h2o-R version from - https://h2o-release.s3.amazonaws.com/h2o/%s/%s/index.html",
+         Install the matching h2o-R version from - https://h2o-release.s3.amazonaws.com/h2o/%s/%s/index.html.  To 
+         avoid this error message (not recommended), you can set strict_version_check=FALSE.",
          verH2O, toString(verPkg),branch_name_H2O,build_number_H2O))
       }
     }