diff --git a/g10/getkey.c b/g10/getkey.c
index 608b75ecb..52e3d235d 100644
--- a/g10/getkey.c
+++ b/g10/getkey.c
@@ -1452,7 +1452,7 @@ parse_def_secret_key (ctrl_t ctrl)
       err = classify_user_id (t->d, &desc, 1);
       if (err)
         {
-          log_error (_("error parsing search description \"%s\": %s\n"),
+          log_error (_("secret key \"%s\" not found: %s\n"),
                      t->d, gpg_strerror (err));
           if (!opt.quiet)
             log_info (_("(check argument of option '%s')\n"), "--default-key");