diff --git a/html/user/prefs.php b/html/user/prefs.php
index e70d07703a..63b917f168 100644
--- a/html/user/prefs.php
+++ b/html/user/prefs.php
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
 
     $subset = $_GET["subset"];
     page_head(subset_name($subset)." preferences");
+	if ($_GET['updated']) {
+	    echo '<p style="color: ref">Your preference has been updated and will take effect the next time BOINC starts, or you may manually retrieve the preference in the BOINC software.';
+	}
     if ($subset == "global") {
         print_prefs_display_global($user);
     } else {
diff --git a/html/user/prefs_edit_action.php b/html/user/prefs_edit_action.php
index 9761d615fe..84b3e5c46f 100644
--- a/html/user/prefs_edit_action.php
+++ b/html/user/prefs_edit_action.php
@@ -41,6 +41,6 @@ if ($subset == "global") {
         venue_update($user);
     }
 }
-Header("Location: prefs.php?subset=$subset");
+Header("Location: prefs.php?subset=$subset&updated=1");
 
 ?>