diff --git a/crates/uv/src/commands/publish.rs b/crates/uv/src/commands/publish.rs
index bcb1cf581..a5dc2c493 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/commands/publish.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/commands/publish.rs
@@ -253,8 +253,8 @@ async fn gather_credentials(
     if password.is_some() && username.is_none() {
         bail!(
             "Attempted to publish with a password, but no username. Either provide a username \
-            with `--user` (`UV_PUBLISH_USERNAME`), or use `--token` (`UV_PUBLISH_TOKEN`) instead \
-            of a password."
+            with `--username` (`UV_PUBLISH_USERNAME`), or use `--token` (`UV_PUBLISH_TOKEN`) \
+            instead of a password."
         );
     }