diff --git a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/access/AccessController.java b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/access/AccessController.java
index b0e8c8cb0e5..a147b1204a0 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/access/AccessController.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/access/AccessController.java
@@ -2490,7 +2490,7 @@ public class AccessController extends BaseMasterAndRegionObserver
     User activeUser = getActiveUser();
     if (!Superusers.isSuperUser(activeUser)) {
       throw new AccessDeniedException("User '" + (activeUser != null ?
-        activeUser.getShortName() : "null") + "is not system or super user.");
+        activeUser.getShortName() : "null") + "' is not system or super user.");
     }
   }