diff --git a/py/proto.c b/py/proto.c
index 030b62674e..e5053130b8 100644
--- a/py/proto.c
+++ b/py/proto.c
@@ -45,6 +45,6 @@ const void *mp_proto_get_or_throw(uint16_t name, mp_const_obj_t obj) {
     if (proto) {
         return proto;
     }
-    mp_raise_TypeError_varg(translate("'%s' object does not support '%s'"), 
-        mp_obj_get_type_str(obj), qstr_str(name));
+    mp_raise_TypeError_varg(translate("'%s' object does not support '%q'"),
+        mp_obj_get_type_str(obj), name);
 }