diff --git a/cmd/tink-worker/worker.go b/cmd/tink-worker/worker.go
index a37b218d1..d249ca32e 100644
--- a/cmd/tink-worker/worker.go
+++ b/cmd/tink-worker/worker.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ type WorkflowMetadata struct {
 func processWorkflowActions(client pb.WorkflowSvcClient) error {
 	workerID := os.Getenv("WORKER_ID")
 	if workerID == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("required WORKER_NAME")
+		return fmt.Errorf("required WORKER_ID")
 	}
 	log = logger.WithField("worker_id", workerID)
 	ctx := context.Background()