diff --git a/Python/errors.c b/Python/errors.c
index 84582e3fc9f..8ddde51d39b 100644
--- a/Python/errors.c
+++ b/Python/errors.c
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ err_clear()
 int
 err_badarg()
 {
-	err_setstr(TypeError, "illegal argument type for built-in function");
+	err_setstr(TypeError, "illegal argument type for built-in operation");
 	return 0;
 }