diff --git a/lisp/dired-x.el b/lisp/dired-x.el
index 84de13d7ef9..088ca81ed8d 100644
--- a/lisp/dired-x.el
+++ b/lisp/dired-x.el
@@ -816,7 +816,7 @@ If in a Dired buffer, reverts it."
   (interactive)
   (if (file-exists-p dired-local-variables-file)
       (error "Old-style dired-local-variables-file `./%s' found;
-replace it with a dir-locals-file `./%s.el'"
+replace it with a dir-locals-file `./%s'"
              dired-local-variables-file
              dir-locals-file))
   (if (file-exists-p dir-locals-file)