diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/generate-config.pl b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/generate-config.pl
index 20abe1015c3f..e5fa780c6e7b 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/generate-config.pl
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/generate-config.pl
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ close CONFIG;
 
 foreach my $name (sort (keys %answers)) {
     my $f = $requiredAnswers{$name} && $ENV{'ignoreConfigErrors'} ne "1"
-        ? sub { die @_; } : sub { warn @_; };
+        ? sub { die "error: " . $_[0]; } : sub { warn "warning: " . $_[0]; };
     &$f("unused option: $name\n") unless defined $config{$name};
     &$f("option not set correctly: $name\n")
         if $config{$name} && $config{$name} ne $answers{$name};