diff --git a/artiq/frontend/artiq_coremgmt.py b/artiq/frontend/artiq_coremgmt.py
index c73dcfd70..a137a402a 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/artiq_coremgmt.py
+++ b/artiq/frontend/artiq_coremgmt.py
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ def main():
                 pass
 
         if retrieved_bins is None:
-            raise FileNotFoundError("both risc-v and zynq binaries not found")
+            raise FileNotFoundError("neither risc-v nor zynq binaries were found")
 
         if len(retrieved_bins) > 1:
             raise ValueError("both risc-v and zynq binaries were found, "