diff --git a/yt_dlp/utils.py b/yt_dlp/utils.py
index 40d956808..9ddd6453f 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/utils.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/utils.py
@@ -2340,15 +2340,20 @@ def make_HTTPS_handler(params, **kwargs):
         return YoutubeDLHTTPSHandler(params, context=context, **kwargs)
 
 
-def bug_reports_message():
+def bug_reports_message(before=';'):
     if ytdl_is_updateable():
         update_cmd = 'type  yt-dlp -U  to update'
     else:
         update_cmd = 'see  https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp  on how to update'
-    msg = '; please report this issue on https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp .'
+    msg = 'please report this issue on  https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp .'
     msg += ' Make sure you are using the latest version; %s.' % update_cmd
     msg += ' Be sure to call yt-dlp with the --verbose flag and include its complete output.'
-    return msg
+
+    before = before.rstrip()
+    if not before or before.endswith(('.', '!', '?')):
+        msg = msg[0].title() + msg[1:]
+
+    return (before + ' ' if before else '') + msg
 
 
 class YoutubeDLError(Exception):