diff --git a/target/i386/cpu.c b/target/i386/cpu.c
index 358d9c0a65..cd16cb893d 100644
--- a/target/i386/cpu.c
+++ b/target/i386/cpu.c
@@ -5192,7 +5192,8 @@ static void x86_cpuid_set_vendor(Object *obj, const char *value,
     int i;
 
     if (strlen(value) != CPUID_VENDOR_SZ) {
-        error_setg(errp, QERR_PROPERTY_VALUE_BAD, "", "vendor", value);
+        error_setg(errp, "value of property 'vendor' must consist of"
+                   " exactly " stringify(CPUID_VENDOR_SZ) " characters");
         return;
     }