diff --git a/builtin/receive-pack.c b/builtin/receive-pack.c
index 2062b141d2..165a633204 100644
--- a/builtin/receive-pack.c
+++ b/builtin/receive-pack.c
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@ static void execute_commands(struct command *commands, const char *unpacker_erro
 
 	if (unpacker_error) {
 		for (cmd = commands; cmd; cmd = cmd->next)
-			cmd->error_string = "n/a (unpacker error)";
+			cmd->error_string = "unpacker error";
 		return;
 	}
 
diff --git a/t/t5504-fetch-receive-strict.sh b/t/t5504-fetch-receive-strict.sh
index 35ec294d9a..69ee13c8be 100755
--- a/t/t5504-fetch-receive-strict.sh
+++ b/t/t5504-fetch-receive-strict.sh
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ test_expect_success 'push with !receive.fsckobjects' '
 
 cat >exp <<EOF
 To dst
-!	refs/heads/master:refs/heads/test	[remote rejected] (n/a (unpacker error))
+!	refs/heads/master:refs/heads/test	[remote rejected] (unpacker error)
 EOF
 
 test_expect_success 'push with receive.fsckobjects' '