diff --git a/builtin/revert.c b/builtin/revert.c
index 1ca08da5ec..02c23c9577 100644
--- a/builtin/revert.c
+++ b/builtin/revert.c
@@ -302,11 +302,19 @@ static NORETURN void die_dirty_index(const char *me)
 	if (read_cache_unmerged()) {
 		die_resolve_conflict(me);
 	} else {
-		if (advice_commit_before_merge)
-			die("Your local changes would be overwritten by %s.\n"
-			    "Please, commit your changes or stash them to proceed.", me);
-		else
-			die("Your local changes would be overwritten by %s.\n", me);
+		if (advice_commit_before_merge) {
+			if (action == REVERT)
+				die(_("Your local changes would be overwritten by revert.\n"
+					  "Please, commit your changes or stash them to proceed."));
+			else
+				die(_("Your local changes would be overwritten by cherry-pick.\n"
+					  "Please, commit your changes or stash them to proceed."));
+		} else {
+			if (action == REVERT)
+				die(_("Your local changes would be overwritten by revert.\n"));
+			else
+				die(_("Your local changes would be overwritten by cherry-pick.\n"));
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh b/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh
index 043954422c..753a6c972c 100755
--- a/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh
+++ b/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cherry-pick on stat-dirty working tree' '
 	)
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'revert forbidden on dirty working tree' '
+test_expect_success C_LOCALE_OUTPUT 'revert forbidden on dirty working tree' '
 
 	echo content >extra_file &&
 	git add extra_file &&