diff --git a/mesonbuild/interpreter.py b/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
index c240885e8..d8b15d200 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
@@ -1960,7 +1960,7 @@ to directly access options of other subprojects.''')
     @noKwargs
     def func_error(self, node, args, kwargs):
         self.validate_arguments(args, 1, [str])
-        raise InterpreterException('Error encountered: ' + args[0])
+        raise InterpreterException('Problem encountered: ' + args[0])
 
     def detect_compilers(self, lang, need_cross_compiler):
         cross_comp = None