diff --git a/src/common/exec.c b/src/common/exec.c
index bcd5b71101..0bee19c1e5 100644
--- a/src/common/exec.c
+++ b/src/common/exec.c
@@ -393,8 +393,8 @@ pipe_read_line(char *cmd)
 			log_error(errcode_for_file_access(),
 					  _("could not read from command \"%s\": %m"), cmd);
 		else
-			log_error(errcode_for_file_access(),
-					  _("no data was returned by command \"%s\": %m"), cmd);
+			log_error(errcode(ERRCODE_NO_DATA),
+					  _("no data was returned by command \"%s\""), cmd);
 	}
 
 	(void) pclose_check(pipe_cmd);