diff --git a/Control/AthenaConfiguration/python/ComponentAccumulator.py b/Control/AthenaConfiguration/python/ComponentAccumulator.py
index 6e1a24e97c844e7a8590d72f608d491cccf9becf..3d05c3f95118c877c0e22cd7bec04452020143db 100644
--- a/Control/AthenaConfiguration/python/ComponentAccumulator.py
+++ b/Control/AthenaConfiguration/python/ComponentAccumulator.py
@@ -407,8 +407,8 @@ class ComponentAccumulator(object):
 
         if (other._privateTools is not None):
             if isinstance(other._privateTools,ConfigurableAlgTool):
-                raise RuntimeError("merge called with a ComponentAccumulator a dangling private tool %s/%s",
-                                   other._privateTools.getType(),other._privateTools.getName())
+                raise RuntimeError("merge called with a ComponentAccumulator a dangling private tool %s/%s" %
+                                   (other._privateTools.getType(),other._privateTools.getName()))
             else:
                 raise RuntimeError("merge called with a ComponentAccumulator a dangling (array of) private tools")