diff --git a/backend/routes/auth.js b/backend/routes/auth.js
index 7c2cda78..821a7538 100644
--- a/backend/routes/auth.js
+++ b/backend/routes/auth.js
@@ -16,14 +16,14 @@ router.post("/signup", validateRequest(signupSchema), async (req, res) => {
         });
 
         if (existingUser)
-            return res.status(400).json({ message: 'User already exists' });
+            return res.status(400).json({ message: 'Username or email is invalid' });
 
         const newUser = new User({ username, email, password });
         await newUser.save();
         res.status(201).json({ message: 'User created successfully' });
     } catch (err) {
         if (err && err.code === 11000) {
-            return res.status(400).json({ message: 'User already exists' });
+            return res.status(400).json({ message: 'Username or email is invalid' });
         }
 
         res.status(500).json({ message: 'Error creating user', error: err.message });