diff --git a/tsdb/index/index.go b/tsdb/index/index.go
index fc1faf5ee..29295c45f 100644
--- a/tsdb/index/index.go
+++ b/tsdb/index/index.go
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ func (w *Writer) finishSymbols() error {
 	symbolTableSize := w.f.pos - w.toc.Symbols - 4
 	// The symbol table's <len> part is 4 bytes. So the total symbol table size must be less than or equal to 2^32-1
 	if symbolTableSize > math.MaxUint32 {
-		return errors.Errorf("symbol table size exceeds 4 bytes: %d", symbolTableSize)
+		return errors.Errorf("symbol table size exceeds %d bytes: %d", uint32(math.MaxUint32), symbolTableSize)
 	}
 
 	// Write out the length and symbol count.