diff --git a/pkg/client/unversioned/helper.go b/pkg/client/unversioned/helper.go
index d23655d3434..ac09a0924c9 100644
--- a/pkg/client/unversioned/helper.go
+++ b/pkg/client/unversioned/helper.go
@@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ func DefaultServerURL(host, prefix, version string, defaultTLS bool) (*url.URL,
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		if hostURL.Path != "" && hostURL.Path != "/" {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("host must be a URL or a host:port pair: %s", base)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("host must be a URL or a host:port pair: %q", base)
 		}
 	}