diff --git a/qga/commands-win32.c b/qga/commands-win32.c
index 87dc43e837..ba1fd07d06 100644
--- a/qga/commands-win32.c
+++ b/qga/commands-win32.c
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ void qmp_guest_shutdown(bool has_mode, const char *mode, Error **errp)
         shutdown_flag |= EWX_REBOOT;
     } else {
         error_setg(errp, QERR_INVALID_PARAMETER_VALUE, "mode",
-                   "halt|powerdown|reboot");
+                   "'halt', 'powerdown', or 'reboot'");
         return;
     }