diff --git a/builtin/add.c b/builtin/add.c
index e888fb8c5f..5d5773d5cd 100644
--- a/builtin/add.c
+++ b/builtin/add.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ struct update_callback_data {
 	int add_errors;
 };
 
-static void chmod_pathspec(struct pathspec *pathspec, int force_mode)
+static void chmod_pathspec(struct pathspec *pathspec, char flip)
 {
 	int i;
 
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ static void chmod_pathspec(struct pathspec *pathspec, int force_mode)
 		if (pathspec && !ce_path_match(ce, pathspec, NULL))
 			continue;
 
-		if (chmod_cache_entry(ce, force_mode) < 0)
-			fprintf(stderr, "cannot chmod '%s'", ce->name);
+		if (chmod_cache_entry(ce, flip) < 0)
+			fprintf(stderr, "cannot chmod %cx '%s'\n", flip, ce->name);
 	}
 }