diff --git a/refs.c b/refs.c
index bc4b1ab8b71..97043fd2ef8 100644
--- a/refs.c
+++ b/refs.c
@@ -4118,9 +4118,9 @@ int reflog_expire(const char *refname, const unsigned char *sha1,
 	 */
 	lock = lock_ref_sha1_basic(refname, sha1, NULL, NULL, 0, &type, &err);
 	if (!lock) {
-		error("%s", err.buf);
+		error("cannot lock ref '%s': %s", refname, err.buf);
 		strbuf_release(&err);
-		return error("cannot lock ref '%s'", refname);
+		return -1;
 	}
 	if (!reflog_exists(refname)) {
 		unlock_ref(lock);