diff --git a/eth/downloader/skeleton.go b/eth/downloader/skeleton.go
index 02b8b4aded..8d411f157a 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/skeleton.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/skeleton.go
@@ -1151,7 +1151,7 @@ func (s *skeleton) cleanStales(filled *types.Header) error {
 		// The skeleton chain is partially consumed, set the new tail as filled+1.
 		tail := rawdb.ReadSkeletonHeader(s.db, number+1)
 		if tail == nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("filled read skeleton header at number %d", number+1)
+			return fmt.Errorf("filled header is missing: %d", number+1)
 		}
 		if tail.ParentHash != filled.Hash() {
 			return fmt.Errorf("filled header is discontinuous with subchain: %d %s, please file an issue", number, filled.Hash())