diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/typecheck.c b/src/cmd/gc/typecheck.c
index 3c27d99154..15d1dfbace 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/typecheck.c
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/typecheck.c
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ reswitch:
 		goto ret;
 
 	case OPACK:
-		yyerror("use of package %S not in selector", n->sym);
+		yyerror("use of package %S without selector", n->sym);
 		goto error;
 
 	case ODDD: