diff --git a/tools/xmss/xmss_common.h b/tools/xmss/xmss_common.h
index f599091f..5c31ea02 100644
--- a/tools/xmss/xmss_common.h
+++ b/tools/xmss/xmss_common.h
@@ -48,8 +48,7 @@ static enum wc_XmssRc xmss_write_key(const byte * priv, word32 privSz, void * co
         /* Create the file if it didn't exist. */
         file = fopen(filename, "w+");
         if (!file) {
-            fprintf(stderr, "error: fopen(%s, \"w+\") failed: %d\n", filename,
-                    ferror(file));
+            fprintf(stderr, "error: fopen(%s, \"w+\") failed.\n", filename);
             return WC_XMSS_RC_WRITE_FAIL;
         }
     }
@@ -72,8 +71,7 @@ static enum wc_XmssRc xmss_write_key(const byte * priv, word32 privSz, void * co
      * storage correctly. */
     file = fopen(filename, "r+");
     if (!file) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "error: fopen(%s, \"r+\") failed: %d\n", filename,
-                ferror(file));
+        fprintf(stderr, "error: fopen(%s, \"r+\") failed.\n", filename);
         return WC_XMSS_RC_WRITE_FAIL;
     }