diff --git a/lib/path.js b/lib/path.js
index 625b6261042940..1a2b3e38eca03f 100644
--- a/lib/path.js
+++ b/lib/path.js
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ const win32 = {
       let path;
       if (i >= 0) {
         path = args[i];
-        validateString(path, 'path');
+        validateString(path, `paths[${i}]`);
 
         // Skip empty entries
         if (path.length === 0) {
@@ -1098,8 +1098,7 @@ const posix = {
 
     for (let i = args.length - 1; i >= -1 && !resolvedAbsolute; i--) {
       const path = i >= 0 ? args[i] : posixCwd();
-
-      validateString(path, 'path');
+      validateString(path, `paths[${i}]`);
 
       // Skip empty entries
       if (path.length === 0) {