diff --git a/src/shell-recorder.c b/src/shell-recorder.c
index 981b7d1f0..cb2e93f76 100644
--- a/src/shell-recorder.c
+++ b/src/shell-recorder.c
@@ -1075,7 +1075,7 @@ recorder_open_outfile (ShellRecorder  *recorder,
 
       if (outfile == -1 && errno != EEXIST)
         {
-          g_warning ("Cannot open output file '%s': %s", filename->str, g_strerror (errno));
+          g_warning ("Cannot open output file '%s': %s", path, g_strerror (errno));
           g_string_free (filename, TRUE);
           g_free (path);
           goto out;