2 files changed, 10 insertions, 5 deletions

diff --git a/subcmds/init.py b/subcmds/init.py
index 536e367c..5671fc24 100644
--- a/subcmds/init.py
+++ b/subcmds/init.py
@@ -100,8 +100,12 @@ to update the working directory files.
                                                  quiet=opt.quiet)
     sync_result = superproject.Sync()
     if not sync_result.success:
-      print('error: git update of superproject failed', file=sys.stderr)
-      if sync_result.fatal:
+      print('warning: git update of superproject failed, repo sync will not '
+            'use superproject to fetch source; while this error is not fatal, '
+            'and you can continue to run repo sync, please run repo init with '
+            'the --no-use-superproject option to stop seeing this warning',
+            file=sys.stderr)
+      if sync_result.fatal and opt.use_superproject is not None:
         sys.exit(1)
 
   def _SyncManifest(self, opt):
diff --git a/subcmds/sync.py b/subcmds/sync.py
index bd5ffd0c..e6dbf1c8 100644
--- a/subcmds/sync.py
+++ b/subcmds/sync.py
@@ -309,10 +309,11 @@ later is required to fix a server side protocol bug.
     if manifest_path:
       self._ReloadManifest(manifest_path, load_local_manifests)
     else:
-      print('error: Update of revsionId from superproject has failed. '
-            'Please resync with --no-use-superproject option',
+      print('warning: Update of revisionId from superproject has failed, '
+            'repo sync will not use superproject to fetch the source. ',
+            'Please resync with the --no-use-superproject option to avoid this repo warning.',
             file=sys.stderr)
-      if update_result.fatal:
+      if update_result.fatal and opt.use_superproject is not None:
         sys.exit(1)
     return manifest_path