diff --git a/include/ui/qemu-spice.h b/include/ui/qemu-spice.h
index db7926d50b..762e063125 100644
--- a/include/ui/qemu-spice.h
+++ b/include/ui/qemu-spice.h
@@ -91,8 +91,8 @@ static inline int qemu_spice_display_add_client(int csock, int skipauth,
 static inline bool qemu_using_spice(Error **errp)
 {
     if (!using_spice) {
-        /* correct one? spice isn't a device ,,, */
-        error_set(errp, QERR_DEVICE_NOT_ACTIVE, "spice");
+        error_set(errp, ERROR_CLASS_DEVICE_NOT_ACTIVE,
+                  "SPICE is not in use");
         return false;
     }
     return true;