diff --git a/crates/doc/src/thread_forms.rs b/crates/doc/src/thread_forms.rs
index cc508afe66..b4f4302429 100644
--- a/crates/doc/src/thread_forms.rs
+++ b/crates/doc/src/thread_forms.rs
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ impl ThreadForm {
                     }
                     None => {
                         let d = num(body).ok_or_else(bad)?;
-                        let p = self.coarse(d).ok_or_else(|| format!("no coarse pitch for M{} (give it: M{}x1)", show(d), show(d)))?;
+                        let p = self.coarse(d).ok_or_else(|| no_coarse_pitch(d).unwrap_or_else(bad))?;
                         (d, p, p * n)
                     }
                 }
@@ -663,6 +663,18 @@ fn inches(s: &str) -> Option<f64> {
     num(s)
 }
 
+/// The refusal for a plain `M<d>` with no ISO coarse pitch: the two coarsest fine pitches to
+/// give that suit the diameter. `None` for a diameter no metric thread has.
+pub fn no_coarse_pitch(d: f64) -> Option<String> {
+    const PITCHES: [f64; 9] = [2.0, 1.5, 1.25, 1.0, 0.75, 0.5, 0.35, 0.25, 0.2];
+    if !(d.is_finite() && d > 0.2 && d <= 1e4) {
+        return None;
+    }
+    let first = PITCHES.iter().position(|p| *p <= 0.12 * d).unwrap_or(PITCHES.len() - 1);
+    let pitches: Vec<String> = PITCHES.iter().skip(first).take(2).filter(|p| **p < d).map(|p| format!("M{}x{}", show(d), show(*p))).collect();
+    (!pitches.is_empty()).then(|| format!("M{} has no coarse ISO pitch: give one, e.g. {}", show(d), pitches.join(" or ")))
+}
+
 fn show(v: f64) -> String {
     let s = format!("{v:.6}");
     s.trim_end_matches('0').trim_end_matches('.').to_string()
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/features.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/features.rs
index 506101442b..816143638a 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/features.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/features.rs
@@ -2343,16 +2343,8 @@ fn clearance_diameter(size: &str, fit: &str) -> Option<f64> {
 
 /// The pitches to try for a plain `M<d>` that has no ISO coarse pitch, `None` for anything else.
 fn fine_only_hint(t: &str) -> Option<String> {
-    const PITCHES: [f64; 9] = [2.0, 1.5, 1.25, 1.0, 0.75, 0.5, 0.35, 0.25, 0.2];
     let diameter = t.trim().strip_prefix(['M', 'm']).and_then(|d| d.trim().parse::<f64>().ok());
-    if let Some(d) = diameter.filter(|d| d.is_finite() && *d > 0.2 && *d <= 1e4) {
-        let first = PITCHES.iter().position(|p| *p <= 0.12 * d).unwrap_or(PITCHES.len() - 1);
-        let pitches: Vec<String> = PITCHES.iter().skip(first).take(2).filter(|p| **p < d).map(|p| format!("M{d}x{p}")).collect();
-        if !pitches.is_empty() {
-            return Some(format!("M{d} has no coarse ISO pitch: give one, e.g. {}", pitches.join(" or ")));
-        }
-    }
-    None
+    diameter.and_then(solidcraft_doc::thread_forms::no_coarse_pitch)
 }
 
 /// Largest nominal diameter automatic thread sizing knows (the last ISO coarse size).
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/thread_tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/thread_tests.rs
index b9c2a6b4bf..7a9fea1265 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/thread_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/thread_tests.rs
@@ -270,7 +270,8 @@ fn a_thread_without_a_coarse_pitch_suggests_explicit_pitches() {
     }
     for designation in ["MNaN", "Minf", "M-28", "M0", "M1e9", "M1e999", "M28x", "M28xNaN"] {
         let e = s.execute("solid.thread", &json!({"face": [14, 0, 5], "designation": designation})).unwrap_err().to_string();
-        assert!(e.contains("unknown thread"), "{designation}: {e}");
+        // Each thread form names itself in its refusal: `unknown metric thread`.
+        assert!(e.contains("unknown metric thread"), "{designation}: {e}");
         assert_eq!(s.doc.to_json(), saved);
     }
     run(&mut s, "solid.thread", json!({"face": [14, 0, 5], "designation": "M28x2"}));