diff --git a/contrib/win32/win32compat/ssh-agent/authagent-request.c b/contrib/win32/win32compat/ssh-agent/authagent-request.c
index 0cacbe602..a9e24ec7c 100644
--- a/contrib/win32/win32compat/ssh-agent/authagent-request.c
+++ b/contrib/win32/win32compat/ssh-agent/authagent-request.c
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ int process_pubkeyauth_request(struct sshbuf* request, struct sshbuf* response,
 
         if (SHGetKnownFolderPath(&FOLDERID_Profile, 0, token, &wuser_home) != S_OK ||
                 pubkey_allowed(key, wuser, wuser_home) != 1) {
-                debug("given public key is not mapped to user %ls (profile:%ls)", wuser, wuser_home);
+                debug("unable to verify public key for user %ls (profile:%ls)", wuser, wuser_home);
                 goto done;
         }