diff --git a/hw/virtio/virtio-mem.c b/hw/virtio/virtio-mem.c
index ffd119e..ef64bf1 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/virtio-mem.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/virtio-mem.c
@@ -1832,8 +1832,8 @@
     }
 
     if (vmem->size) {
-        error_setg(errp, "virtio-mem device cannot get unplugged while"
-                   " '" VIRTIO_MEM_SIZE_PROP "' != '0'");
+        error_setg(errp, "virtio-mem device cannot get unplugged while some"
+                   " of its memory is still plugged");
         return;
     }
     if (vmem->requested_size) {