diff --git a/include/xrpl/ledger/helpers/SLEBase.h b/include/xrpl/ledger/helpers/SLEBase.h
index f1c26ef946..93a09076c2 100644
--- a/include/xrpl/ledger/helpers/SLEBase.h
+++ b/include/xrpl/ledger/helpers/SLEBase.h
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ public:
     newSLE()
         requires isWritable
     {
-        XRPL_ASSERT(!canModify(), "xrpl::SLEBase::newSLE : sle_ is not null");
+        XRPL_ASSERT(!canModify(), "xrpl::SLEBase::newSLE : no existing SLE");
         sle_ = std::make_shared<SLE>(key_);
     }