diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/module.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/module.py
index 3cefb512c2b..70da689b671 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/module.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/module.py
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ def _find_modules(spec, modules_list):
             tty.die("No installed packages match spec %s" % raw_spec)
 
         if len(specs) > 1:
-            tty.error("Multiple matches for spec %s.  Choose one:" % spec)
+            tty.error("Multiple matches for spec %s.  Choose one:" % raw_spec)
             for s in specs:
                 sys.stderr.write(s.tree(color=True))
             sys.exit(1)