diff --git a/wt-status.c b/wt-status.c
index 1a270571ee..7dbd1e1c92 100644
--- a/wt-status.c
+++ b/wt-status.c
@@ -2265,15 +2265,15 @@ int require_clean_work_tree(const char *action, const char *hint, int ignore_sub
 
 	if (has_unstaged_changes(ignore_submodules)) {
 		/* TRANSLATORS: the action is e.g. "pull with rebase" */
-		error(_("Cannot %s: You have unstaged changes."), _(action));
+		error(_("cannot %s: You have unstaged changes."), _(action));
 		err = 1;
 	}
 
 	if (has_uncommitted_changes(ignore_submodules)) {
 		if (err)
-			error(_("Additionally, your index contains uncommitted changes."));
+			error(_("additionally, your index contains uncommitted changes."));
 		else
-			error(_("Cannot %s: Your index contains uncommitted changes."),
+			error(_("cannot %s: Your index contains uncommitted changes."),
 			      _(action));
 		err = 1;
 	}