diff --git a/src/udev/udevadm-test.c b/src/udev/udevadm-test.c
index bbee79c88e..7a30e25135 100644
--- a/src/udev/udevadm-test.c
+++ b/src/udev/udevadm-test.c
@@ -63,10 +63,9 @@ static int parse_argv(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 
                         a = device_action_from_string(optarg);
                         if (a < 0)
-                                return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EINVAL),
-                                                       "Invalid action '%s'", optarg);
+                                return log_error_errno(a, "Invalid action '%s'", optarg);
 
-                        arg_action = optarg;
+                        arg_action = device_action_to_string(a);
                         break;
                 }
                 case 'N':
diff --git a/src/udev/udevadm-trigger.c b/src/udev/udevadm-trigger.c
index 908c27495f..2d16f34d86 100644
--- a/src/udev/udevadm-trigger.c
+++ b/src/udev/udevadm-trigger.c
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ int trigger_main(int argc, char *argv[], void *userdata) {
                         if (a < 0)
                                 return log_error_errno(a, "Unknown action '%s'", optarg);
 
-                        action = optarg;
+                        action = device_action_to_string(a);
                         break;
                 }
                 case 's':