diff --git a/notes.c b/notes.c
index 3130add618..9533a14a13 100644
--- a/notes.c
+++ b/notes.c
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ static void load_subtree(struct notes_tree *t, struct leaf_node *subtree,
 			die("Failed to load %s %s into notes tree "
 			    "from %s",
 			    type == PTR_TYPE_NOTE ? "note" : "subtree",
-			    oid_to_hex(&l->key_oid), t->ref);
+			    oid_to_hex(&object_oid), t->ref);
 
 		continue;