diff --git a/docs/release_notes/upcoming.md b/docs/release_notes/upcoming.md
index b20948d9..438946a2 100644
--- a/docs/release_notes/upcoming.md
+++ b/docs/release_notes/upcoming.md
@@ -13,3 +13,17 @@ ready to be released, carry out the following steps:
   version
 
 -->
+
+## New features
+
+<!-- TODO -->
+
+## Breaking changes
+
+<!-- TODO -->
+
+## Bug fixes
+
+- Fix misleading warning message for assets decommissioned before simulation start ([#1259])
+
+[#1259]: https://github.com/EnergySystemsModellingLab/MUSE2/pull/1259
diff --git a/src/asset.rs b/src/asset.rs
index a56ea7d7..be92a0c2 100644
--- a/src/asset.rs
+++ b/src/asset.rs
@@ -340,8 +340,8 @@ impl Asset {
         let max_decommission_year =
             max_decommission_year.unwrap_or(commission_year + process_parameter.lifetime);
         ensure!(
-            max_decommission_year >= commission_year,
-            "Max decommission year must be after/same as commission year"
+            max_decommission_year > commission_year,
+            "Max decommission year must be greater than commission year"
         );
 
         Ok(Self {
diff --git a/src/asset/pool.rs b/src/asset/pool.rs
index 899dcb84..3b0007fd 100644
--- a/src/asset/pool.rs
+++ b/src/asset/pool.rs
@@ -35,11 +35,11 @@ impl AssetPool {
             // Ignore assets that have already been decommissioned
             if asset.max_decommission_year() <= year {
                 warn!(
-                    "Asset '{}' with commission year {} and lifetime {} was decommissioned before \
+                    "User asset '{}' with commission year {} was decommissioned in {}, before \
                     the start of the simulation",
                     asset.process_id(),
                     asset.commission_year,
-                    asset.process_parameter.lifetime
+                    asset.max_decommission_year
                 );
                 continue;
             }