diff --git a/builder/digitalocean/api.go b/builder/digitalocean/api.go
index 5abc12faa..7e09595cc 100644
--- a/builder/digitalocean/api.go
+++ b/builder/digitalocean/api.go
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ func NewRequest(d DigitalOceanClient, path string, params url.Values) (map[strin
 		}
 
 		if status == "ERROR" {
-			status = decodedResponse["error_message"].(string)
+			status = decodedResponse["message"].(string)
 		}
 
 		lastErr = errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("Received error from DigitalOcean (%d): %s",