diff --git a/test/check-refs.sh b/test/check-refs.sh
index 74abe9f85..81ef81b35 100755
--- a/test/check-refs.sh
+++ b/test/check-refs.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ cd $(dirname $0)/reference || exit
 pdiff=$1
 [ -n "$pdiff" ] || pdiff=../pdiff/perceptualdiff
 if [ ! -e "${pdiff}" ]; then
-    echo "Error:  requires ${pdiff} executable"
+    echo "Error:  requires pdiff executable"
     exit 128
 fi