diff --git a/pkg/controller/controllerutil/controllerutil.go b/pkg/controller/controllerutil/controllerutil.go
index e9f44b65c5..bb67c7037f 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/controllerutil/controllerutil.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/controllerutil/controllerutil.go
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func newAlreadyOwnedError(Object metav1.Object, Owner metav1.OwnerReference) *Al
 func SetControllerReference(owner, object metav1.Object, scheme *runtime.Scheme) error {
 	ro, ok := owner.(runtime.Object)
 	if !ok {
-		return fmt.Errorf("is not a %T a runtime.Object, cannot call SetControllerReference", owner)
+		return fmt.Errorf("%T is not a runtime.Object, cannot call SetControllerReference", owner)
 	}
 
 	gvk, err := apiutil.GVKForObject(ro, scheme)