diff --git a/packages/patterns/src/patterns/patternMatchers.js b/packages/patterns/src/patterns/patternMatchers.js
index ee49e4d29d..6611d07d20 100644
--- a/packages/patterns/src/patterns/patternMatchers.js
+++ b/packages/patterns/src/patterns/patternMatchers.js
@@ -941,20 +941,31 @@ const makePatternKit = () => {
         return false;
       }
       const { label } = remotableDesc;
-      const passStyle = passStyleOf(specimen);
-      const kindDetails =
-        passStyle !== 'tagged'
-          ? // Pass style can be embedded in details without quotes.
-            b(passStyle)
-          : // Tag must be quoted because it is potentially attacker-controlled
-            // (unlike `kindOf`, this does not reject unrecognized tags).
-            q(getTag(specimen));
       return check(
         false,
         // `label` can be embedded without quotes because it is provided by
         // local code like `M.remotable("...")`.
-        X`${specimen} - Must be a remotable ${b(label)}, not ${kindDetails}`,
+        X`${specimen} - Must be a remotable (${b(label)})`,
       );
+      // We would like to use the commented out code below rather than the
+      // the similar code immediately above. The new code improves the error
+      // message, which is great. However, currently agoric-sdk has tests that
+      // depend on the error message emitted by the code above.
+      // TODO use the code below when we can.
+      //
+      // const passStyle = passStyleOf(specimen);
+      // const kindDetails =
+      //   passStyle !== 'tagged'
+      //     ? // Pass style can be embedded in details without quotes.
+      //       b(passStyle)
+      //     : // Tag must be quoted because it is potentially attacker-controlled
+      //       // (unlike `kindOf`, this does not reject unrecognized tags).
+      //       q(getTag(specimen));
+      // return check(
+      //   false,
+      //   // `label` can be embedded without quotes because it is provided by
+      //   // local code like `M.remotable("...")`.
+      //   X`${specimen} - Must be a remotable ${b(label)}, not ${kindDetails}`,
     },
 
     checkIsWellFormed: (allegedRemotableDesc, check) =>