diff --git a/builtin/branch.c b/builtin/branch.c
index 7b45b6bd6b..6045dca471 100644
--- a/builtin/branch.c
+++ b/builtin/branch.c
@@ -583,8 +583,7 @@ static int edit_branch_description(const char *branch_name)
 		    branch_name, comment_line_char);
 	if (write_file_gently(git_path(edit_description), "%s", buf.buf)) {
 		strbuf_release(&buf);
-		return error(_("could not write branch description template: %s"),
-			     strerror(errno));
+		return error_errno(_("could not write branch description template"));
 	}
 	strbuf_reset(&buf);
 	if (launch_editor(git_path(edit_description), &buf, NULL)) {