diff --git a/config/alfresco/messages/custommodel-service.properties b/config/alfresco/messages/custommodel-service.properties
index 74a6f5b663..53e9d644b5 100644
--- a/config/alfresco/messages/custommodel-service.properties
+++ b/config/alfresco/messages/custommodel-service.properties
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ cmm.service.download.create_share_ext_err=We couldn''t create a Share extension
 cmm.service.download.create_model_copy_err=We couldn''t make a copy of the custom model node. {0}
 cmm.service.download.create_err=We couldn't create download.
 cmm.service.constraint.default_prop_value_err=Property default value isn't valid for the defined constraint.
+cmm.service.model_in_use=Model ''{0}'' is in use and cannot be deleted or deactivated.
 
 # ValueDataTypeValidator messages
 cmm.value_datatype_validator.unknown_datatype=Property data type ''{0}'' is unknown.
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/dictionary/DictionaryModelType.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/dictionary/DictionaryModelType.java
index 111fb5b809..a3c2a683a4 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/dictionary/DictionaryModelType.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/dictionary/DictionaryModelType.java
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@ public class DictionaryModelType implements ContentServicePolicies.OnContentUpda
     /** The name of the lock used to ensure that DictionaryModelType updates do not run on more than one thread/node at the same time. */
     private static final QName LOCK_QNAME = QName.createQName(NamespaceService.SYSTEM_MODEL_1_0_URI, "DictionaryModelType");
     
+    private static final String MODEL_IN_USE = "cmm.service.model_in_use";
+    
     /** The dictionary DAO */
     private DictionaryDAO dictionaryDAO;
     
@@ -342,9 +344,9 @@ public class DictionaryModelType implements ContentServicePolicies.OnContentUpda
             if (modelName != null)
             {
                 // Validate model delete against usages - content and/or workflows
-                if(!modelValidator.canDeleteModel(modelName))
+                if (!modelValidator.canDeleteModel(modelName))
                 {
-                    throw new AlfrescoRuntimeException("Cannot delete model " + modelName + ", it is being used");
+                    throw AlfrescoRuntimeException.create(MODEL_IN_USE, modelName);
                 }
 
                 Set<NodeRef> pendingModelDeletes = (Set<NodeRef>)AlfrescoTransactionSupport.getResource(KEY_PENDING_DELETE_MODELS);
@@ -650,10 +652,9 @@ public class DictionaryModelType implements ContentServicePolicies.OnContentUpda
                                     if (modelName != null)
                                     {
                                         // Validate model delete against usages - content and/or workflows
-                                        if(!modelValidator.canDeleteModel(modelName))
+                                        if (!modelValidator.canDeleteModel(modelName))
                                         {
-                                            throw new AlfrescoRuntimeException("Cannot delete model "
-                                                    + modelName + ", it is being used");
+                                            throw AlfrescoRuntimeException.create(MODEL_IN_USE, modelName);
                                         }
 
                                         // invalidate - to force lazy re-init
diff --git a/source/test-java/org/alfresco/repo/admin/RepoAdminServiceImplTest.java b/source/test-java/org/alfresco/repo/admin/RepoAdminServiceImplTest.java
index 2fbdd2e768..4bf1e0be81 100644
--- a/source/test-java/org/alfresco/repo/admin/RepoAdminServiceImplTest.java
+++ b/source/test-java/org/alfresco/repo/admin/RepoAdminServiceImplTest.java
@@ -333,8 +333,7 @@ public class RepoAdminServiceImplTest extends TestCase
                 // expected
                 assertTrue(
                         "Incorrect exception message: " + are.getMessage(),
-                        are.getMessage().contains("Cannot delete model") &&
-                        are.getMessage().contains("it is being used"));
+                        are.getMessage().contains(" is in use and cannot be deleted or deactivated."));
             }
             
             nodeService.deleteNode(node1);
@@ -353,7 +352,7 @@ public class RepoAdminServiceImplTest extends TestCase
             catch (AlfrescoRuntimeException are)
             {
                 // expected
-                assertTrue(are.getMessage().contains("Cannot delete model"));
+                assertTrue(are.getMessage().contains("is in use and cannot be deleted or deactivated."));
             }
             
             nodeService.deleteNode(archiveNode1);
@@ -484,7 +483,7 @@ public class RepoAdminServiceImplTest extends TestCase
             {
                 // expected
                 assertTrue(are.getMessage().contains("Model undeployment failed"));
-                assertTrue(are.getCause().getMessage().contains("Cannot delete model"));
+                assertTrue(are.getCause().getMessage().contains("is in use and cannot be deleted or deactivated."));
             }
             
             nodeService.deleteNode(node1);
@@ -504,7 +503,7 @@ public class RepoAdminServiceImplTest extends TestCase
             {
                 // expected
                 assertTrue(are.getMessage().contains("Model undeployment failed"));
-                assertTrue(are.getCause().getMessage().contains("Cannot delete model"));
+                assertTrue(are.getCause().getMessage().contains("is in use and cannot be deleted or deactivated."));
             }
             
             nodeService.deleteNode(archiveNode1);