diff --git a/hugr-py/src/hugr/_dfg.py b/hugr-py/src/hugr/_dfg.py
index ee4ec1704..ccfeea822 100644
--- a/hugr-py/src/hugr/_dfg.py
+++ b/hugr-py/src/hugr/_dfg.py
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ def call(
             case FunctionKind(sig):
                 signature = sig
             case _:
-                raise ValueError(f"Expected function type, got {f_kind}")
+                raise ValueError(f"Expected 'func' to be a function")
         call_op = ops.Call(signature, instantiation, type_args)
         call_n = self.hugr.add_node(call_op, self.parent_node, call_op.num_out)
         self.hugr.add_link(func.out(0), call_n.inp(call_op.function_port_offset()))