diff --git a/bin/cp/cp.c b/bin/cp/cp.c
index 98697ba2b06f..823376964bd1 100644
--- a/bin/cp/cp.c
+++ b/bin/cp/cp.c
@@ -287,8 +287,7 @@ copy(char *argv[], enum op type, int fts_options, struct stat *root_stat)
 		case FTS_NS:
 		case FTS_DNR:
 		case FTS_ERR:
-			warnx("%s: %s",
-			    curr->fts_path, strerror(curr->fts_errno));
+			warnc(curr->fts_errno, "%s", curr->fts_path);
 			badcp = rval = 1;
 			continue;
 		case FTS_DC:			/* Warn, continue. */