diff --git a/tools/cache.py b/tools/cache.py
index 2aa5ffbd7cf7..3a8655449447 100644
--- a/tools/cache.py
+++ b/tools/cache.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def ensure():
   if not os.path.isdir(cachedir):
     parent_dir = os.path.dirname(cachedir)
     if not is_writable(parent_dir):
-      utils.exit_with_error('unable to create cache directory "{cachdir}": parent directory not writable (see https://emscripten.org/docs/tools_reference/emcc.html for info on setting the cache directory)')
+      utils.exit_with_error(f'unable to create cache directory "{cachedir}": parent directory not writable (see https://emscripten.org/docs/tools_reference/emcc.html for info on setting the cache directory)')
     utils.safe_ensure_dirs(cachedir)