diff --git a/src/core/instance/proxy.js b/src/core/instance/proxy.js
index 8e581877bde..2e45f4636a1 100644
--- a/src/core/instance/proxy.js
+++ b/src/core/instance/proxy.js
@@ -15,9 +15,11 @@ if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production') {
 
   const warnNonPresent = (target, key) => {
     warn(
-      `Property or method "${key}" is not defined on the instance but ` +
-      `referenced during render. Make sure to declare reactive data ` +
-      `properties in the data option.`,
+      `Property or method "${key}" is not defined on the instance but` +
+      'referenced during render. Make sure that this property is reactive, ' +
+      'either in the data option, or for class-based components, by ' +
+      'initializing the property.' +
+      'See: https://vuejs.org/v2/guide/reactivity.html#Declaring-Reactive-Properties.',
       target
     )
   }