diff --git a/upup/pkg/fi/cloudup/populate_cluster_spec.go b/upup/pkg/fi/cloudup/populate_cluster_spec.go
index 6b858842aa..2ddc694688 100644
--- a/upup/pkg/fi/cloudup/populate_cluster_spec.go
+++ b/upup/pkg/fi/cloudup/populate_cluster_spec.go
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ func (c *populateClusterSpec) run() error {
 	if cluster.Spec.DNSZone == "" {
 		dnsZone, err := cloud.FindDNSHostedZone(cluster.Name)
 		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("Error determining default DNS zone; please specify --zone-name: %v", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("Error determining default DNS zone; please specify --dns-zone: %v", err)
 		}
 		glog.Infof("Defaulting DNS zone to: %s", dnsZone)
 		cluster.Spec.DNSZone = dnsZone