diff --git a/src/slurmdbd/slurmdbd.c b/src/slurmdbd/slurmdbd.c
index 824b7d32683a1f356f4cc84bfc6b2490f72772de..922d448576660de6dc6b435c1ad9a2d3be61d8d3 100644
--- a/src/slurmdbd/slurmdbd.c
+++ b/src/slurmdbd/slurmdbd.c
@@ -156,8 +156,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	 * for the first time after an upgrade.
 	 */
 	if (slurm_auth_init(NULL) != SLURM_SUCCESS) {
-		fatal("Unable to initialize %s authentication plugin",
-		      slurm_conf.authtype);
+		fatal("Unable to initialize authentication plugins");
 	}
 	if (slurm_acct_storage_init() != SLURM_SUCCESS) {
 		fatal("Unable to initialize %s accounting storage plugin",