diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/4438-fix-error-message.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/4438-fix-error-message.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..67c70502181
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/4438-fix-error-message.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - xbps - fix error message that is reported when installing packages fails (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/pull/4438).
diff --git a/plugins/modules/packaging/os/xbps.py b/plugins/modules/packaging/os/xbps.py
index 8d314ea8599..74a8951b36c 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/packaging/os/xbps.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/packaging/os/xbps.py
@@ -230,7 +230,9 @@ def install_packages(module, xbps_path, state, packages):
         module.params['upgrade_xbps'] = False
         install_packages(module, xbps_path, state, packages)
     elif rc != 0 and not (state == 'latest' and rc == 17):
-        module.fail_json(msg="failed to install %s" % (package))
+        module.fail_json(msg="failed to install %s packages(s)"
+                         % (len(toInstall)),
+                         packages=toInstall)
 
     module.exit_json(changed=True, msg="installed %s package(s)"
                      % (len(toInstall)),