diff --git a/catkin_tools/verbs/catkin_profile/cli.py b/catkin_tools/verbs/catkin_profile/cli.py
index 83960dd7..bc0bd22a 100644
--- a/catkin_tools/verbs/catkin_profile/cli.py
+++ b/catkin_tools/verbs/catkin_profile/cli.py
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ def main(opts):
                 print(clr('[profile] Activated catkin metadata profile: @{cf}%s@|' % active_profile))
             else:
                 print('catkin profile: error: Profile `%s` does not exist in workspace `%s`.' %
-                      (opts.name[0], ctx.workspace))
+                      (opts.name, ctx.workspace))
                 return 1
 
             profiles = get_profile_names(ctx.workspace)