diff --git a/apps/figcraft/src/startup_tests.rs b/apps/figcraft/src/startup_tests.rs
index 0c92bd19..20910309 100644
--- a/apps/figcraft/src/startup_tests.rs
+++ b/apps/figcraft/src/startup_tests.rs
@@ -2,8 +2,15 @@
 //! report it, instead of the app quitting silently (#261).
 
 use figcraft_ui_egui::dialogs::window_failed as message;
+use figcraft_ui_egui::i18n::tr;
 
 const ERROR: &str = "WGPU error: Failed to create surface for any enabled backend: {}";
+const BACKEND_HINT: &str = "WGPU_BACKEND is set and names the graphics API to use; unsetting it lets FigCraft choose.";
+const DRIVER_HINT: &str = if cfg!(windows) {
+    "Updating the graphics driver often helps. To use OpenGL only, start FigCraft from a Command Prompt with:"
+} else {
+    "Updating the graphics driver often helps. WGPU_BACKEND (vulkan, gl, metal) names another graphics API to try."
+};
 
 #[test]
 fn the_message_carries_the_error_and_where_to_report_it() {
@@ -15,9 +22,9 @@ fn the_message_carries_the_error_and_where_to_report_it() {
 #[test]
 fn without_wgpu_backend_it_suggests_the_driver_and_another_graphics_api() {
     let text = message(ERROR, false);
-    assert!(text.contains("graphics driver"), "{text}");
+    assert!(text.contains(tr(DRIVER_HINT)), "{text}");
     assert!(text.contains("WGPU_BACKEND"), "another graphics API to try: {text}");
-    assert!(!text.contains("unsetting"), "{text}");
+    assert!(!text.contains(tr(BACKEND_HINT)), "{text}");
 }
 
 #[cfg(windows)]
@@ -30,6 +37,6 @@ fn on_windows_it_shows_how_to_start_with_opengl() {
 #[test]
 fn with_wgpu_backend_set_it_suggests_unsetting_it() {
     let text = message(ERROR, true);
-    assert!(text.contains("unsetting"), "{text}");
-    assert!(!text.contains("graphics driver"), "the chosen backend is the likelier cause: {text}");
+    assert!(text.contains(tr(BACKEND_HINT)), "{text}");
+    assert!(!text.contains(tr(DRIVER_HINT)), "the chosen backend is the likelier cause: {text}");
 }