diff --git a/src/cmd/go/internal/modload/init.go b/src/cmd/go/internal/modload/init.go
index 31ad30adf8..06be18405d 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/internal/modload/init.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/internal/modload/init.go
@@ -719,7 +719,7 @@ func LoadModFile(ctx context.Context) *Requirements {
 		data, f, err := ReadModFile(gomod, fixVersion(ctx, &fixed))
 		if err != nil {
 			if inWorkspaceMode() {
-				base.Fatalf("go: cannot load module added to go.work file: %v", err)
+				base.Fatalf("go: cannot load module listed in go.work file: %v", err)
 			} else {
 				base.Fatalf("go: %v", err)
 			}
diff --git a/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/work_use_issue55952.txt b/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/work_use_issue55952.txt
index 2321317334..2971718a89 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/work_use_issue55952.txt
+++ b/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/work_use_issue55952.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ! go list .
-stderr '^go: cannot load module added to go\.work file: open .+go\.mod: no such file or directory$'
+stderr '^go: cannot load module listed in go\.work file: open .+go\.mod: no such file or directory$'
 
 -- go.work --
 use ./y