diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_validate.c b/src/qemu/qemu_validate.c
index 3789361b57..47012748e8 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_validate.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_validate.c
@@ -1209,7 +1209,7 @@ qemuValidateDomainDef(const virDomainDef *def,
         }
         if (!def->nserials) {
             virReportError(VIR_ERR_XML_ERROR, "%s",
-                           _("need at least one serial port to use SGA"));
+                           _("need at least one serial port to use BIOS serial output"));
             return -1;
         }
     }