diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 45007448614bcd..9693bff233b8ba 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -7573,6 +7573,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "assert_matches",
  "chrono",
  "clap 2.33.3",
+ "dirs-next",
  "rpassword",
  "solana-clock",
  "solana-cluster-type",
@@ -7603,6 +7604,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "assert_matches",
  "chrono",
  "clap 3.2.23",
+ "dirs-next",
  "rpassword",
  "solana-clock",
  "solana-cluster-type",
diff --git a/clap-utils/Cargo.toml b/clap-utils/Cargo.toml
index a0e9f610816e4a..29e86304ba686c 100644
--- a/clap-utils/Cargo.toml
+++ b/clap-utils/Cargo.toml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ name = "solana_clap_utils"
 [dependencies]
 chrono = { workspace = true, features = ["default"] }
 clap = "2.33.0"
+dirs-next = { workspace = true }
 rpassword = { workspace = true }
 solana-clock = { workspace = true }
 solana-cluster-type = { workspace = true }
diff --git a/clap-utils/src/keypair.rs b/clap-utils/src/keypair.rs
index 421d1a2df2ebe7..2501cb27acd236 100644
--- a/clap-utils/src/keypair.rs
+++ b/clap-utils/src/keypair.rs
@@ -175,10 +175,17 @@ impl DefaultSigner {
                     }
                 })
                 .map_err(|_| {
+                    // Use the system default path in the error message instead of the configured path
+                    let default_path = dirs_next::home_dir()
+                        .map(|mut path| {
+                            path.extend([".config", "solana", "id.json"]);
+                            path.to_str().unwrap_or(&self.path).to_string()
+                        })
+                        .unwrap_or_else(|| self.path.clone());
                     std::io::Error::other(format!(
                         "No default signer found, run \"solana-keygen new -o {}\" to create a new \
                          one",
-                        self.path
+                        default_path
                     ))
                 })?;
             *self.is_path_checked.borrow_mut() = true;
diff --git a/clap-v3-utils/Cargo.toml b/clap-v3-utils/Cargo.toml
index 68e6c44ba6379b..81f20d5315181b 100644
--- a/clap-v3-utils/Cargo.toml
+++ b/clap-v3-utils/Cargo.toml
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ elgamal = ["dep:solana-zk-sdk"]
 [dependencies]
 chrono = { workspace = true, features = ["default"] }
 clap = { version = "3.2.23", features = ["cargo"] }
+dirs-next = { workspace = true }
 rpassword = { workspace = true }
 solana-clock = { workspace = true }
 solana-cluster-type = { workspace = true }
diff --git a/clap-v3-utils/src/keypair.rs b/clap-v3-utils/src/keypair.rs
index 4022775b88ea7d..c82089f0c069db 100644
--- a/clap-v3-utils/src/keypair.rs
+++ b/clap-v3-utils/src/keypair.rs
@@ -171,10 +171,17 @@ impl DefaultSigner {
                     }
                 })
                 .map_err(|_| {
+                    // Use the system default path in the error message instead of the configured path
+                    let default_path = dirs_next::home_dir()
+                        .map(|mut path| {
+                            path.extend([".config", "solana", "id.json"]);
+                            path.to_str().unwrap_or(&self.path).to_string()
+                        })
+                        .unwrap_or_else(|| self.path.clone());
                     std::io::Error::other(format!(
                         "No default signer found, run \"solana-keygen new -o {}\" to create a new \
                          one",
-                        self.path
+                        default_path
                     ))
                 })?;
             *self.is_path_checked.borrow_mut() = true;
diff --git a/programs/sbf/Cargo.lock b/programs/sbf/Cargo.lock
index b7a95166192011..434473d98c9eeb 100644
--- a/programs/sbf/Cargo.lock
+++ b/programs/sbf/Cargo.lock
@@ -6057,6 +6057,7 @@ version = "3.1.0"
 dependencies = [
  "chrono",
  "clap",
+ "dirs-next",
  "rpassword",
  "solana-clock",
  "solana-cluster-type",