diff --git a/qmake/library/qmakeevaluator.cpp b/qmake/library/qmakeevaluator.cpp
index edd1d5f38f4..3e613038a3c 100644
--- a/qmake/library/qmakeevaluator.cpp
+++ b/qmake/library/qmakeevaluator.cpp
@@ -1259,7 +1259,7 @@ bool QMakeEvaluator::loadSpec()
                 goto cool;
             }
         }
-        evalError(fL1S("Could not find qmake configuration file %1.").arg(qmakespec));
+        evalError(fL1S("Could not find qmake spec '%1'.").arg(qmakespec));
         return false;
     }
   cool: