diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl/pkg/drain/filters.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl/pkg/drain/filters.go
index 4e9a21b8dcd..f34b543252e 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl/pkg/drain/filters.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl/pkg/drain/filters.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ const (
 	daemonSetWarning    = "ignoring DaemonSet-managed Pods"
 	localStorageFatal   = "Pods with local storage (use --delete-emptydir-data to override)"
 	localStorageWarning = "deleting Pods with local storage"
-	unmanagedFatal      = "Pods declare no controller (use --force to override)"
+	unmanagedFatal      = "cannot delete Pods that declare no controller (use --force to override)"
 	unmanagedWarning    = "deleting Pods that declare no controller"
 )