diff --git a/builtin-merge.c b/builtin-merge.c
index d0bf1fc1ed..370d0034ca 100644
--- a/builtin-merge.c
+++ b/builtin-merge.c
@@ -703,7 +703,7 @@ static int suggest_conflicts(void)
 
 	fp = fopen(git_path("MERGE_MSG"), "a");
 	if (!fp)
-		die("Could open %s for writing", git_path("MERGE_MSG"));
+		die("Could not open %s for writing", git_path("MERGE_MSG"));
 	fprintf(fp, "\nConflicts:\n");
 	for (pos = 0; pos < active_nr; pos++) {
 		struct cache_entry *ce = active_cache[pos];