diff --git a/libweston-desktop/xdg-shell.c b/libweston-desktop/xdg-shell.c
index ff76c39c..6cbf55e4 100644
--- a/libweston-desktop/xdg-shell.c
+++ b/libweston-desktop/xdg-shell.c
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ weston_desktop_xdg_toplevel_committed(struct weston_desktop_xdg_toplevel *toplev
 
 		wl_resource_post_error(client_resource,
 				       XDG_WM_BASE_ERROR_INVALID_SURFACE_STATE,
-				       "xdg_surface buffer (%" PRIi32 " x %" PRIi32 ") "
+				       "xdg_surface geometry (%" PRIi32 " x %" PRIi32 ") "
 				       "does not match the configured maximized state (%" PRIi32 " x %" PRIi32 ")",
 				       geometry.width, geometry.height,
 				       toplevel->next.size.width,