diff --git a/src/udev/udevadm-control.c b/src/udev/udevadm-control.c
index 8dc3a8d955..45a71b23f1 100644
--- a/src/udev/udevadm-control.c
+++ b/src/udev/udevadm-control.c
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ int control_main(int argc, char *argv[], void *userdata) {
 
                         r = safe_atou(optarg, &i);
                         if (r < 0)
-                                return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to parse maximum number of events '%s': %m", optarg);
+                                return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to parse maximum number of children '%s': %m", optarg);
 
                         r = udev_ctrl_send_set_children_max(uctrl, i);
                         if (r == -ENOANO)