diff --git a/va/va.go b/va/va.go
index 3c02829e..33c3fb93 100644
--- a/va/va.go
+++ b/va/va.go
@@ -842,7 +842,7 @@ func (va VAImpl) getTXTEntry(name string) ([]string, error) {
 	}
 
 	if in.Rcode != dns.RcodeSuccess {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("DNS lookup for %q returned an unsuccessful response: %q", name, in.Rcode)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("DNS lookup for %q returned an unsuccessful response: %d", name, in.Rcode)
 	}
 
 	for _, record := range in.Answer {