diff --git a/src/ostree/main.c b/src/ostree/main.c
index 3863a143..b20cdbb0 100644
--- a/src/ostree/main.c
+++ b/src/ostree/main.c
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ main (int    argc,
 
   if (error != NULL)
     {
-      g_printerr ("%s\n", error->message);
+      g_printerr ("error: %s\n", error->message);
       g_error_free (error);
     }