diff --git a/src/cmd/go/internal/module/module.go b/src/cmd/go/internal/module/module.go
index 8afd2739b8..481a90b1c4 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/internal/module/module.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/internal/module/module.go
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ func checkElem(elem string, fileName bool) error {
 	}
 	for _, bad := range badWindowsNames {
 		if strings.EqualFold(bad, short) {
-			return fmt.Errorf("disallowed path element %q", elem)
+			return fmt.Errorf("%q disallowed as path element component on Windows", short)
 		}
 	}
 	return nil