diff --git a/k8sdeps/transformer/patch/patch.go b/k8sdeps/transformer/patch/patch.go
index a57ea39f2..4a2764bfb 100644
--- a/k8sdeps/transformer/patch/patch.go
+++ b/k8sdeps/transformer/patch/patch.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func (pt *patchTransformer) Transform(baseResourceMap resmap.ResMap) error {
 		id := patch.Id()
 		matchedIds := baseResourceMap.FindByGVKN(id)
 		if len(matchedIds) == 0 {
-			return fmt.Errorf("failed to find an object with %#v to apply the patch", id.Gvk())
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to find an object with %s to apply the patch", id.GvknString())
 		}
 		if len(matchedIds) > 1 {
 			return fmt.Errorf("found multiple objects %#v targeted by patch %#v (ambiguous)", matchedIds, id)