diff --git a/Source/cmPackageInfoArguments.cxx b/Source/cmPackageInfoArguments.cxx
index d60e08c78a..3a86489c0c 100644
--- a/Source/cmPackageInfoArguments.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmPackageInfoArguments.cxx
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ bool cmPackageInfoArguments::SetEffectiveProject(cmExecutionStatus& status)
   if (!this->ProjectName.empty()) {
     // User specified a project; make sure it exists.
     if (!mf.GetStateSnapshot().CheckProjectName(this->ProjectName)) {
-      status.SetError(cmStrCat(R"(PROJECT given invalid project name ")"_s,
+      status.SetError(cmStrCat(R"(PROJECT given unknown project name ")"_s,
                                this->ProjectName, R"(".)"_s));
       return false;
     }
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/ExportPackageInfo/BadArgs1-stderr.txt b/Tests/RunCMake/ExportPackageInfo/BadArgs1-stderr.txt
index 5dc0c6aa00..5ad15d3a6e 100644
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/ExportPackageInfo/BadArgs1-stderr.txt
+++ b/Tests/RunCMake/ExportPackageInfo/BadArgs1-stderr.txt
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@ Call Stack \(most recent call first\):
 
 
 CMake Error at BadArgs1\.cmake:6 \(export\):
-  export PROJECT given invalid project name "bar"\.
+  export PROJECT given unknown project name "bar"\.
 Call Stack \(most recent call first\):
   CMakeLists\.txt:3 \(include\)
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/InstallPackageInfo/BadArgs1-stderr.txt b/Tests/RunCMake/InstallPackageInfo/BadArgs1-stderr.txt
index a430bc4d7e..3e70e450f0 100644
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/InstallPackageInfo/BadArgs1-stderr.txt
+++ b/Tests/RunCMake/InstallPackageInfo/BadArgs1-stderr.txt
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@ Call Stack \(most recent call first\):
 
 
 CMake Error at BadArgs1\.cmake:6 \(install\):
-  install PROJECT given invalid project name "bar"\.
+  install PROJECT given unknown project name "bar"\.
 Call Stack \(most recent call first\):
   CMakeLists\.txt:3 \(include\)