diff --git a/tools/bpf/bpftool/common.c b/tools/bpf/bpftool/common.c
index fcaf00621102..be7aebff0c1e 100644
--- a/tools/bpf/bpftool/common.c
+++ b/tools/bpf/bpftool/common.c
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ int do_pin_any(int argc, char **argv, int (*get_fd_by_id)(__u32))
 
 	fd = get_fd_by_id(id);
 	if (fd < 0) {
-		p_err("can't get prog by id (%u): %s", id, strerror(errno));
+		p_err("can't open object by id (%u): %s", id, strerror(errno));
 		return -1;
 	}