diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 670e705f..ee996f4d 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -1007,7 +1007,7 @@ function OPE(message: string, code?: string, cause?: unknown) {
 
 function assertCryptoKey(key: unknown, it: string): asserts key is CryptoKey {
   if (!(key instanceof CryptoKey)) {
-    throw CodedTypeError(`${it} must be a private CryptoKey`, ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE)
+    throw CodedTypeError(`${it} must be a CryptoKey`, ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE)
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/test/client_auth.test.ts b/test/client_auth.test.ts
index e6ec778a..f755c2d7 100644
--- a/test/client_auth.test.ts
+++ b/test/client_auth.test.ts
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ test('private_key_jwt', async (t) => {
     message: '"clientPrivateKey.key" must be a private CryptoKey',
   })
   t.throws(() => lib.PrivateKeyJwt({ key: null as any }), {
-    message: '"clientPrivateKey.key" must be a private CryptoKey',
+    message: '"clientPrivateKey.key" must be a CryptoKey',
   })
   t.pass()
 })