diff --git a/builder/dockerfile/instructions/parse.go b/builder/dockerfile/instructions/parse.go
index e52ac47a11..86ddc57b7e 100644
--- a/builder/dockerfile/instructions/parse.go
+++ b/builder/dockerfile/instructions/parse.go
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ func parseLabel(req parseRequest) (*LabelCommand, error) {
 
 func parseAdd(req parseRequest) (*AddCommand, error) {
 	if len(req.args) < 2 {
-		return nil, errAtLeastTwoArguments("ADD")
+		return nil, errNoDestinationArgument("ADD")
 	}
 	flChown := req.flags.AddString("chown", "")
 	if err := req.flags.Parse(); err != nil {
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ func parseAdd(req parseRequest) (*AddCommand, error) {
 
 func parseCopy(req parseRequest) (*CopyCommand, error) {
 	if len(req.args) < 2 {
-		return nil, errAtLeastTwoArguments("COPY")
+		return nil, errNoDestinationArgument("COPY")
 	}
 	flChown := req.flags.AddString("chown", "")
 	flFrom := req.flags.AddString("from", "")
@@ -622,8 +622,8 @@ func errExactlyOneArgument(command string) error {
 	return errors.Errorf("%s requires exactly one argument", command)
 }
 
-func errAtLeastTwoArguments(command string) error {
-	return errors.Errorf("%s requires at least two arguments", command)
+func errNoDestinationArgument(command string) error {
+	return errors.Errorf("%s requires at least two arguments, but only one was provided. Destination could not be determined.", command)
 }
 
 func errBlankCommandNames(command string) error {
diff --git a/builder/dockerfile/instructions/parse_test.go b/builder/dockerfile/instructions/parse_test.go
index bf41b1a266..f15eaca1d6 100644
--- a/builder/dockerfile/instructions/parse_test.go
+++ b/builder/dockerfile/instructions/parse_test.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func TestCommandsAtLeastOneArgument(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestCommandsAtLeastTwoArgument(t *testing.T) {
+func TestCommandsNoDestinationArgument(t *testing.T) {
 	commands := []string{
 		"ADD",
 		"COPY",
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func TestCommandsAtLeastTwoArgument(t *testing.T) {
 		ast, err := parser.Parse(strings.NewReader(command + " arg1"))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		_, err = ParseInstruction(ast.AST.Children[0])
-		assert.EqualError(t, err, errAtLeastTwoArguments(command).Error())
+		assert.EqualError(t, err, errNoDestinationArgument(command).Error())
 	}
 }