diff --git a/gnu/services/shepherd.scm b/gnu/services/shepherd.scm
index f35a6bf10aa891785ddceb3d92ac2d7d86bd12a5..a14f51592a65b90d60cb75b13b9bbacf4766b1dd 100644
--- a/gnu/services/shepherd.scm
+++ b/gnu/services/shepherd.scm
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ (define (assert-satisfied-requirements service)
                           (&message
                            (message
                             (format #f (_ "service '~a' requires '~a', \
-which is undefined")
+which is not provided by any service")
                                     (match (shepherd-service-provision service)
                                       ((head . _) head)
                                       (_          service))