diff --git a/chardev/char.c b/chardev/char.c
index b005df3ccf..193bbac054 100644
--- a/chardev/char.c
+++ b/chardev/char.c
@@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ static const ChardevClass *char_get_class(const char *driver, Error **errp)
 
     if (object_class_is_abstract(oc)) {
         error_setg(errp, QERR_INVALID_PARAMETER_VALUE, "driver",
-                   "an abstract device type");
+                   "a non-abstract device type");
         return NULL;
     }