diff --git a/guix/scripts/refresh.scm b/guix/scripts/refresh.scm
index a0de9f6c10..7292eabc47 100644
--- a/guix/scripts/refresh.scm
+++ b/guix/scripts/refresh.scm
@@ -419,8 +419,8 @@ the latest known version of ~a (~a)~%")
                  (full-name x)))
         (lst
          (format (current-output-port)
-                 (N_ "Building the following package would ensure ~d \
-dependent packages are rebuilt: ~*~{~a~^ ~}~%"
+                 (N_ "Building the following ~*package would ensure ~d \
+dependent packages are rebuilt: ~{~a~^ ~}~%"
                      "Building the following ~d packages would ensure ~d \
 dependent packages are rebuilt: ~{~a~^ ~}~%"
                      (length covering))