diff --git a/coregrind/vg_main.c b/coregrind/vg_main.c
index a8a09b5..9b5bd81 100644
--- a/coregrind/vg_main.c
+++ b/coregrind/vg_main.c
@@ -473,8 +473,8 @@
 	 break;
       }
 
-   if ( ! (1|2) ) {
-      fprintf(stderr, "stage2 must be launched by stage1\n");
+   if ( found != (1|2) ) {
+      fprintf(stderr, "valgrind: stage2 must be launched by stage1\n");
       exit(127);
    }
 }