diff --git a/api/server/middleware.go b/api/server/middleware.go
index 4f4d0f6437..5b277bc1f3 100644
--- a/api/server/middleware.go
+++ b/api/server/middleware.go
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ func versionMiddleware(handler httputils.APIFunc) httputils.APIFunc {
 			return errors.ErrorCodeNewerClientVersion.WithArgs(apiVersion, api.DefaultVersion)
 		}
 		if apiVersion.LessThan(api.MinVersion) {
-			return errors.ErrorCodeOldClientVersion.WithArgs(apiVersion, api.DefaultVersion)
+			return errors.ErrorCodeOldClientVersion.WithArgs(apiVersion, api.MinVersion)
 		}
 
 		w.Header().Set("Server", "Docker/"+dockerversion.Version+" ("+runtime.GOOS+")")