diff --git a/Python/Python-ast.c b/Python/Python-ast.c
index d473418..ba310e6 100644
--- a/Python/Python-ast.c
+++ b/Python/Python-ast.c
@@ -386,8 +386,10 @@
     res = 0; /* if no error occurs, this stays 0 to the end */
     if (PyTuple_GET_SIZE(args) > 0) {
         if (numfields != PyTuple_GET_SIZE(args)) {
-            PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError, "%.400s constructor takes either 0 or "
-                         "%d positional argument%s", Py_TYPE(self)->tp_name,
+            PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError, "%.400s constructor takes %s"
+                         "%" PY_FORMAT_SIZE_T "d positional argument%s",
+                         Py_TYPE(self)->tp_name,
+                         numfields == 0 ? "" : "either 0 or ",
                          numfields, numfields == 1 ? "" : "s");
             res = -1;
             goto cleanup;