diff --git a/lib/util.js b/lib/util.js
index 624f4dfb7d032b..82c92ad0be47cf 100644
--- a/lib/util.js
+++ b/lib/util.js
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ function inherits(ctor, superCtor) {
 
   if (superCtor.prototype === undefined) {
     throw new ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE('superCtor.prototype',
-                                   'Function', superCtor.prototype);
+                                   'Object', superCtor.prototype);
   }
   Object.defineProperty(ctor, 'super_', {
     value: superCtor,
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-util-inherits.js b/test/parallel/test-util-inherits.js
index 9bbb4352dc3853..ed0800c33cec42 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-util-inherits.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-util-inherits.js
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ common.expectsError(function() {
 }, {
   code: 'ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE',
   type: TypeError,
-  message: 'The "superCtor.prototype" property must be of type Function. ' +
+  message: 'The "superCtor.prototype" property must be of type Object. ' +
            'Received type undefined'
 });