diff --git a/src/core/devices/nm-device-factory.c b/src/core/devices/nm-device-factory.c
index bd771b7cf4..1585836281 100644
--- a/src/core/devices/nm-device-factory.c
+++ b/src/core/devices/nm-device-factory.c
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ nm_device_factory_get_connection_iface(NMDeviceFactory *factory,
         g_set_error(error,
                     NM_MANAGER_ERROR,
                     NM_MANAGER_ERROR_FAILED,
-                    "failed to determine interface name: error determine name for %s",
+                    "failed to determine interface name for a %s",
                     nm_connection_get_connection_type(connection));
         return NULL;
     }
diff --git a/src/core/nm-manager.c b/src/core/nm-manager.c
index 71d8f83cf7..e23cf0cabf 100644
--- a/src/core/nm-manager.c
+++ b/src/core/nm-manager.c
@@ -2522,7 +2522,7 @@ return_ifname_fom_connection:
         g_set_error(error,
                     NM_MANAGER_ERROR,
                     NM_MANAGER_ERROR_FAILED,
-                    "failed to determine interface name: error determine name for %s",
+                    "failed to determine interface name for a %s",
                     nm_connection_get_connection_type(connection));
     }
     return iface;