diff --git a/.commit-check.yml b/.commit-check.yml
index 9b0c3199..10f8d392 100644
--- a/.commit-check.yml
+++ b/.commit-check.yml
@@ -30,5 +30,5 @@ checks:
 
   - check: merge_base
     regex: main # it can be master, develop, devel etc based on your project.
-    error: Current branch is not up to date with target branch
-    suggest: please ensure your branch is rebased with the target branch
+    error: Current branch is not rebased onto target branch
+    suggest: Please ensure your branch is rebased with the target branch
diff --git a/commit_check/__init__.py b/commit_check/__init__.py
index 44d3c0d4..61de524f 100644
--- a/commit_check/__init__.py
+++ b/commit_check/__init__.py
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@
         {
             'check': 'merge_base',
             'regex': r'main', # it can be master, develop, devel etc based on your project.
-            'error': 'Current branch is not up to date with target branch',
-            'suggest': 'please ensure your branch is rebased with the target branch',
+            'error': 'Current branch is not rebased onto target branch',
+            'suggest': 'Please ensure your branch is rebased with the target branch',
         },
     ],
 }
diff --git a/commit_check/branch.py b/commit_check/branch.py
index 2e235986..39bc7ecd 100644
--- a/commit_check/branch.py
+++ b/commit_check/branch.py
@@ -40,8 +40,9 @@ def check_merge_base(checks: list) -> int:
                     f"{YELLOW}Not found target branch for checking merge base. skip checking.{RESET_COLOR}",
                 )
                 return PASS
+            target_branch = check['regex'] if "origin/" in check['regex'] else f"origin/{check['regex']}"
             current_branch = get_branch_name()
-            result = git_merge_base(check['regex'], current_branch)
+            result = git_merge_base(target_branch, current_branch)
             if result != 0:
                 if not print_error_header.has_been_called:
                     print_error_header()
diff --git a/commit_check/main.py b/commit_check/main.py
index 3a2e6f3f..50b23508 100644
--- a/commit_check/main.py
+++ b/commit_check/main.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ def get_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
     parser.add_argument(
         '-mb',
         '--merge-base',
-        help='check common ancestors',
+        help='check branch is rebased onto target branch',
         action="store_true",
         required=False,
     )