diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index b7e0a3864c..961a222506 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -2926,9 +2926,9 @@ int rearrange_squash(void)
 		if (fd < 0)
 			res = error_errno(_("could not open '%s'"), todo_file);
 		else if (write(fd, buf.buf, buf.len) < 0)
-			res = error_errno(_("could not read '%s'."), todo_file);
+			res = error_errno(_("could not write '%s'"), todo_file);
 		else if (ftruncate(fd, buf.len) < 0)
-			res = error_errno(_("could not finish '%s'"),
+			res = error_errno(_("could not truncate '%s'"),
 					   todo_file);
 		close(fd);
 		strbuf_release(&buf);