diff --git a/collects/2htdp/tests/on-tick-defined.rkt b/collects/2htdp/tests/on-tick-defined.rkt
index bec034fb80..f210c16be7 100644
--- a/collects/2htdp/tests/on-tick-defined.rkt
+++ b/collects/2htdp/tests/on-tick-defined.rkt
@@ -7,8 +7,17 @@
 (error-print-source-location #f)
 
 (define legal "big-bang: ~a clauses are not allowed when using big-bang")
-(define double 
-  "big-bang: the on-tick clause appears twice")
+(define double "big-bang: the on-tick clause appears twice")
+(define atleast "big-bang: expects a [to-draw handler] clause, missing")
+
+;; is the mandatort to-draw clause specified 
+(with-handlers ((exn:fail:syntax? 
+                 (lambda (x) 
+                   (unless (string=? (exn-message x) atleast) (raise x)))))
+  (eval '(module a scheme 
+           (require 2htdp/universe)
+           (local ((define (run) (big-bang 0 (on-tick add1))))
+             10))))
 
 (with-handlers ((exn:fail:syntax? 
                  (lambda (x) 
diff --git a/collects/2htdp/universe.rkt b/collects/2htdp/universe.rkt
index 7c58718844..805688ba3a 100644
--- a/collects/2htdp/universe.rkt
+++ b/collects/2htdp/universe.rkt
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@
     "wheel-down"))
 
 (define-syntax (big-bang stx)
-  (define world0 "expects an expression for the initial world and at least one clause, but nothing's there")
+  (define world0 "expects an expression for the initial world and at least one clause")
   (syntax-case stx ()
     [(big-bang) (raise-syntax-error #f world0 stx)]
     [(big-bang w clause ...)
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@
             [dom (syntax->list #'(clause ...))])
        (cond
          [(and (not (contains-clause? #'to-draw dom)) (not (contains-clause? #'on-draw dom)))
-          (raise-syntax-error #f "expects at least one clause after the initial world, but nothing's there" stx)]
+          (raise-syntax-error #f "expects a [to-draw handler] clause, missing" stx)]
          [else 
           (stepper-syntax-property
            #`(run-it ((new-world (if #,rec? aworld% world%)) w #,@args))
@@ -321,8 +321,8 @@
 
 (define-syntax (universe stx)
   (syntax-case stx ()
-    [(universe) (raise-syntax-error #f "expects an expression for the initial world and at least one clause, but nothing's there" stx)]
-    [(universe u) (raise-syntax-error #f "expects at least one clause after the initial world, but nothing's there" stx)]
+    [(universe) (raise-syntax-error #f "expects an expression for the initial world" stx)]
+    [(universe u) (raise-syntax-error #f "expects at least an on-new and an on-msg clause after the initial world" stx)]
     [(universe u bind ...)
      (let* ([args (->args 'universe stx #'u #'(bind ...) UniSpec void)]
             [dom (syntax->list #'(bind ...))])