diff --git a/builder/vmware/common/step_shutdown_test.go b/builder/vmware/common/step_shutdown_test.go
index b3c13a9f6..cdbda852d 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/common/step_shutdown_test.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/step_shutdown_test.go
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func TestStepShutdown_locks(t *testing.T) {
 	lockPath := filepath.Join(dir.dir, "nope.lck")
 	err := ioutil.WriteFile(lockPath, []byte("foo"), 0644)
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("err: %s")
+		t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
 	}
 
 	// Remove the lock file after a certain time