diff --git a/builtin/blame.c b/builtin/blame.c
index 303e217ae9..b547469015 100644
--- a/builtin/blame.c
+++ b/builtin/blame.c
@@ -2677,7 +2677,7 @@ int cmd_blame(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		sb.commits.compare = compare_commits_by_commit_date;
 	}
 	else if (contents_from)
-		die("--contents and --children do not blend well.");
+		die("--contents and --reverse do not blend well.");
 	else {
 		final_commit_name = prepare_initial(&sb);
 		sb.commits.compare = compare_commits_by_reverse_commit_date;