diff --git a/usr.sbin/traceroute6/traceroute6.c b/usr.sbin/traceroute6/traceroute6.c
index 72495ce5cba9..88a76c44d404 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/traceroute6/traceroute6.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/traceroute6/traceroute6.c
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ main(argc, argv)
 		errx(1, ipsec_strerror());
 	if (setsockopt(rcvsock, IPPROTO_IPV6, IPV6_IPSEC_POLICY,
 		       buf, len) < 0)
-		err(1, NULL);
+		err(1, "Unable to set IPSec policy");
     }
 #else
     {
@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ main(argc, argv)
 		errx(1, ipsec_strerror());
 	if (setsockopt(sndsock, IPPROTO_IPV6, IPV6_IPSEC_POLICY,
 		       buf, len) < 0)
-		err(1, NULL);
+		err(1, "Unable to set IPSec policy");
     }
 #else
     {