diff --git a/parse-options.c b/parse-options.c
index 312a85dbde..4fbe924a5d 100644
--- a/parse-options.c
+++ b/parse-options.c
@@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ void NORETURN usage_msg_opt(const char *msg,
 		   const char * const *usagestr,
 		   const struct option *options)
 {
-	fprintf(stderr, "%s\n\n", msg);
+	fprintf(stderr, "fatal: %s\n\n", msg);
 	usage_with_options(usagestr, options);
 }