diff --git a/cli/compose/loader/loader.go b/cli/compose/loader/loader.go
index 3edcd81668..0653691cd9 100644
--- a/cli/compose/loader/loader.go
+++ b/cli/compose/loader/loader.go
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ func transformServiceSecret(data interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
 	case map[string]interface{}:
 		return data, nil
 	default:
-		return data, fmt.Errorf("invalid type %T for external", value)
+		return data, fmt.Errorf("invalid type %T for secret", value)
 	}
 }