diff --git a/src/or/control.c b/src/or/control.c
index d33d33734e443c6ee921b6e404d79c4838ea2daa..954da65143a8b32a4d6988613cfd3fd207c1e44c 100644
--- a/src/or/control.c
+++ b/src/or/control.c
@@ -1396,7 +1396,7 @@ getinfo_helper_misc(control_connection_t *conn, const char *question,
   } else if (!strcmp(question, "fingerprint")) {
     crypto_pk_env_t *server_key;
     if (!server_mode(get_options())) {
-      *errmsg = "No routerdesc known; am I really a server?";
+      *errmsg = "Not running in server mode";
       return -1;
     }
     server_key = get_server_identity_key();