diff --git a/pkg/config/app.go b/pkg/config/app.go
index 9128488e..6631503d 100644
--- a/pkg/config/app.go
+++ b/pkg/config/app.go
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ func newApp(env AppEnv, name string, appFile AppFile) (App, error) {
 	if !exists {
 		recipe, exists = env["TYPE"]
 		if !exists {
-			return App{}, fmt.Errorf("%s is missing the RECIPE env var", name)
+			return App{}, fmt.Errorf("%s is missing the TYPE env var?", name)
 		}
 	}