diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index e66f2fe0f04..4687ad4b80b 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -875,8 +875,7 @@ static int sequencer_rollback(struct replay_opts *opts)
 		return rollback_single_pick();
 	}
 	if (!f)
-		return error(_("cannot open %s: %s"), git_path_head_file(),
-						strerror(errno));
+		return error_errno(_("cannot open %s"), git_path_head_file());
 	if (strbuf_getline_lf(&buf, f)) {
 		error(_("cannot read %s: %s"), git_path_head_file(),
 		      ferror(f) ?  strerror(errno) : _("unexpected end of file"));