diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index af6d2d4..bede47e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 1.6.0
+
+option to change the message displayed on invalid input
+
 ## 1.5.0
 
 - added changelog
diff --git a/Jenkinsfile b/Jenkinsfile
index 92f12d7..a057651 100644
--- a/Jenkinsfile
+++ b/Jenkinsfile
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ pipeline {
       VERSION = VersionNumber([
           versionNumberString:
               '${BUILDS_ALL_TIME}',
-          versionPrefix: '1.5.',
+          versionPrefix: '1.6.',
           worstResultForIncrement: 'SUCCESS'
       ])
   }
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7ce7256..22396b3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # @sapphirecode/console-app
 
-version: 1.5.x
+version: 1.6.x
 
 read parameters from env, console args or interactively
 
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ const reader = new InteractiveOptions([
     env: 'fooenv', // environment variable to read from (optional)
     description: 'the switch foo', // description in the help page (optional)
     message: 'should foo be true?', // message when asking interactively (optional)
-    preset: [] // preset choices for string and path types (optional)
+    preset: [], // preset choices for string and path types (optional)
+    error: 'wrong input' // message to display when the user gives invalid input
   },
 ]);
 
diff --git a/lib/Option.ts b/lib/Option.ts
index 967dc66..2d5a77e 100644
--- a/lib/Option.ts
+++ b/lib/Option.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ interface Option {
   description?: string;
   message?: string;
   preset?: unknown[];
+  error?: string;
 }
 
 interface OptionProcess extends Option {
diff --git a/lib/Sources/InteractiveSource.ts b/lib/Sources/InteractiveSource.ts
index 6b46480..d3d2368 100644
--- a/lib/Sources/InteractiveSource.ts
+++ b/lib/Sources/InteractiveSource.ts
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ export class InteractiveSource extends OptionSource {
             throw e;
           });
         if (!opt.filled)
-          console.log ('input was invalid');
+          console.log (opt.error || 'input was invalid');
       }
     }
   }