diff --git a/src/cmd/linuxkit/moby/config.go b/src/cmd/linuxkit/moby/config.go
index ac9c6778b..bb8e1ac23 100644
--- a/src/cmd/linuxkit/moby/config.go
+++ b/src/cmd/linuxkit/moby/config.go
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ func extractReferences(m *Moby) error {
 	for _, ii := range m.Init {
 		r, err := reference.Parse(referenceExpand(ii))
 		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("extract on boot image reference: %v", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("extract init image reference: %v", err)
 		}
 		m.initRefs = append(m.initRefs, &r)
 	}