diff --git a/lang/m2/comp/walk.c b/lang/m2/comp/walk.c
index 3d8ec5762..a61b766ad 100644
--- a/lang/m2/comp/walk.c
+++ b/lang/m2/comp/walk.c
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ WalkStat(nd, exit_label)
 	case '(':
 		if (ChkCall(nd)) {
 			if (nd->nd_type != 0) {
-				node_error(nd, "procedure call expected");
+				node_error(nd, "illegal function call");
 				break;
 			}
 			CodeCall(nd);