diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index 72e51a9675..cebabc5cd4 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -2843,7 +2843,7 @@ int delete_refs(struct string_list *refnames)
 		const char *refname = refnames->items[i].string;
 
 		if (delete_ref(refname, NULL, 0))
-			result |= error(_("Could not remove branch %s"), refname);
+			result |= error(_("could not remove reference %s"), refname);
 	}
 
 	return result;