diff --git a/send-pack.c b/send-pack.c
index 266f37f060..d938cba0a8 100644
--- a/send-pack.c
+++ b/send-pack.c
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ int send_pack(struct send_pack_args *args,
 		return 0;
 	}
 	if (args->atomic && !atomic_supported)
-		die(_("server does not support --atomic push"));
+		die(_("the receiving end does not support --atomic push"));
 
 	use_atomic = atomic_supported && args->atomic;