diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 5421eca66a..9dec3f5b2d 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -273,8 +273,8 @@ if sdl.found()
                          method: 'pkg-config', static: enable_static)
 else
   if get_option('sdl_image').enabled()
-    error('sdl-image required, but SDL was @0@',
-          get_option('sdl').disabled() ? 'disabled' : 'not found')
+    error('sdl-image required, but SDL was @0@'.format(
+          get_option('sdl').disabled() ? 'disabled' : 'not found'))
   endif
   sdl_image = not_found
 endif