diff --git a/src/common/filename.cpp b/src/common/filename.cpp
index e8c8fda943..52a8dcd296 100644
--- a/src/common/filename.cpp
+++ b/src/common/filename.cpp
@@ -175,9 +175,12 @@ public:
 
         if ( m_hFile == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE )
         {
-            wxLogSysError(_("Failed to open '%s' for %s"),
-                          filename.c_str(),
-                          mode == Read ? _("reading") : _("writing"));
+            if ( mode == Read )
+                wxLogSysError(_("Failed to open '%s' for reading"),
+                              filename.c_str());
+            else
+                wxLogSysError(_("Failed to open '%s' for writing"),
+                              filename.c_str());
         }
     }