diff --git a/command/meta_backend.go b/command/meta_backend.go
index d4c9f0bcc..93892d20b 100644
--- a/command/meta_backend.go
+++ b/command/meta_backend.go
@@ -700,6 +700,10 @@ func (m *Meta) backend_C_r_s(c *configs.Backend, cHash int, sMgr *state.LocalSta
 		return nil, diags
 	}
 
+	// By now the backend is successfully configured.
+	m.Ui.Output(m.Colorize().Color(fmt.Sprintf(
+		"[reset][green]\n"+strings.TrimSpace(successBackendSet), s.Backend.Type)))
+
 	// Its possible that the currently selected workspace is not migrated,
 	// so we call selectWorkspace to ensure a valid workspace is selected.
 	if err := m.selectWorkspace(b); err != nil {
@@ -707,9 +711,6 @@ func (m *Meta) backend_C_r_s(c *configs.Backend, cHash int, sMgr *state.LocalSta
 		return nil, diags
 	}
 
-	m.Ui.Output(m.Colorize().Color(fmt.Sprintf(
-		"[reset][green]\n"+strings.TrimSpace(successBackendSet), s.Backend.Type)))
-
 	// Return the backend
 	return b, diags
 }
@@ -720,10 +721,14 @@ func (m *Meta) backend_C_r_s(c *configs.Backend, cHash int, sMgr *state.LocalSta
 func (m *Meta) selectWorkspace(b backend.Backend) error {
 	workspaces, err := b.Workspaces()
 	if err != nil {
+		if err == backend.ErrWorkspacesNotSupported {
+			return nil
+		}
 		return fmt.Errorf("Failed to get migrated workspaces: %s", err)
 	}
+
 	if len(workspaces) == 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf(errBackendNoMigratedWorkspaces)
+		return fmt.Errorf(strings.TrimSpace(errBackendNoMigratedWorkspaces))
 	}
 
 	// Get the currently selected workspace.
@@ -744,18 +749,18 @@ func (m *Meta) selectWorkspace(b backend.Backend) error {
 	v, err := m.UIInput().Input(&terraform.InputOpts{
 		Id: "select-workspace",
 		Query: fmt.Sprintf(
-			"[reset][bold][yellow]The currently selected workspace (%s) is not migrated.[reset]",
+			"\n[reset][bold][yellow]The currently selected workspace (%s) is not migrated.[reset]",
 			workspace),
 		Description: fmt.Sprintf(
 			strings.TrimSpace(inputBackendSelectWorkspace), list.String()),
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Error asking to select workspace: %s", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("Failed to select workspace: %s", err)
 	}
 
 	idx, err := strconv.Atoi(v)
 	if err != nil || (idx < 1 || idx > len(workspaces)) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Error selecting workspace: input not a valid number")
+		return fmt.Errorf("Failed to select workspace: input not a valid number")
 	}
 
 	return m.SetWorkspace(workspaces[idx-1])
@@ -1086,6 +1091,14 @@ If you'd like to run Terraform and store state locally, you can fix this
 error by removing the backend configuration from your configuration.
 `
 
+const errBackendNoMigratedWorkspaces = `
+No workspaces are migrated.
+
+Use the "terraform workspace" command to create and select a new workspace.
+If the backend already contains existing workspaces, you may need to update
+the backend configuration.
+`
+
 const errBackendRemoteRead = `
 Error reading backend state: %s
 
diff --git a/command/meta_backend_migrate.go b/command/meta_backend_migrate.go
index 06e46883b..b0eee2a83 100644
--- a/command/meta_backend_migrate.go
+++ b/command/meta_backend_migrate.go
@@ -475,14 +475,6 @@ The state in the previous backend remains intact and unmodified. Please resolve
 the error above and try again.
 `
 
-const errBackendNoMigratedWorkspaces = `
-No workspaces are migrated. Use the "terraform workspace" command to create
-and select a new workspace.
-
-If the backend already contains existing workspaces, you may need to update
-the workspace name or prefix in the backend configuration.
-`
-
 const inputBackendMigrateEmpty = `
 Pre-existing state was found while migrating the previous %q backend to the
 newly configured %q backend. No existing state was found in the newly