diff --git a/server/internal/auth/local.go b/server/internal/auth/local.go
index 1069132..ecd65f1 100644
--- a/server/internal/auth/local.go
+++ b/server/internal/auth/local.go
@@ -83,17 +83,17 @@ func HandleBootstrap(c *gin.Context) {
 		Password     string `json:"password"`
 	}
 	if err := c.ShouldBindJSON(&body); err != nil || body.InstanceName == "" || body.Email == "" || len(body.Password) < 8 {
-		c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": "org_name, email, and password (>=8 chars) required"})
+		c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": "instance_name, email, and password (>=8 chars) required"})
 		return
 	}
 
-	orgCount, err := services.CountInstances()
+	instanceCount, err := services.CountInstances()
 	if err != nil {
 		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": err.Error()})
 		return
 	}
 	var inst *models.Instance
-	switch orgCount {
+	switch instanceCount {
 	case 0:
 		inst, err = services.CreateInstance(body.InstanceName)
 	case 1:
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ func HandleBootstrap(c *gin.Context) {
 		c.JSON(http.StatusConflict, gin.H{"error": fmt.Sprintf(
 			"cannot bootstrap: %d organizations already exist but no users do; "+
 				"create the owner against the intended inst rather than through setup, "+
-				"or remove the unintended orgs and retry", orgCount)})
+				"or remove the unintended orgs and retry", instanceCount)})
 		return
 	}
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/server/internal/services/instances.go b/server/internal/services/instances.go
index c66f3eb..42017e5 100644
--- a/server/internal/services/instances.go
+++ b/server/internal/services/instances.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func AdoptInstance(instanceID, name string) (*models.Instance, error) {
 
 	if _, err := db.Col("instances").UpdateOne(ctx, bson.M{"instance_id": instanceID}, bson.M{"$set": set}); err != nil {
 		if mongo.IsDuplicateKeyError(err) {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("organization slug already taken")
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("instance slug already taken")
 		}
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/server/internal/services/monitors.go b/server/internal/services/monitors.go
index e5569b9..57f2b29 100644
--- a/server/internal/services/monitors.go
+++ b/server/internal/services/monitors.go
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ func ListMonitors(instanceID string) ([]models.Monitor, error) {
 
 func ListMonitorsForRunner(instanceID, runner string) ([]models.Monitor, error) {
 	if instanceID == "" {
-		return nil, errors.New("org id required")
+		return nil, errors.New("instance id required")
 	}
 	return listMonitorsForRunner(instanceID, runner)
 }
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ func UptimeRollups(instanceID, monitorID string, since time.Time) ([]models.Roll
 
 func IngestResult(instanceID, runner, monitorID string, res checker.Result) error {
 	if instanceID == "" {
-		return errors.New("org id required")
+		return errors.New("instance id required")
 	}
 	return ingestResult(instanceID, runner, monitorID, res)
 }