diff --git a/system/qdev-monitor.c b/system/qdev-monitor.c
index c1243891c3..840177d19f 100644
--- a/system/qdev-monitor.c
+++ b/system/qdev-monitor.c
@@ -891,7 +891,7 @@ static DeviceState *find_device_state(const char *id, Error **errp)
 
     dev = (DeviceState *)object_dynamic_cast(obj, TYPE_DEVICE);
     if (!dev) {
-        error_setg(errp, "%s is not a hotpluggable device", id);
+        error_setg(errp, "%s is not a device", id);
         return NULL;
     }