diff --git a/builtin/receive-pack.c b/builtin/receive-pack.c
index cd5c7a28ef..c24616a3ac 100644
--- a/builtin/receive-pack.c
+++ b/builtin/receive-pack.c
@@ -1464,7 +1464,7 @@ static const char *update(struct command *cmd, struct shallow_info *si)
 
 	/* only refs/... are allowed */
 	if (!starts_with(name, "refs/") || check_refname_format(name + 5, 0)) {
-		rp_error("refusing to create funny ref '%s' remotely", name);
+		rp_error("refusing to update funny ref '%s' remotely", name);
 		ret = "funny refname";
 		goto out;
 	}