diff --git a/route.c b/route.c
index 344867877f4..8e7c97abf56 100644
--- a/route.c
+++ b/route.c
@@ -1134,8 +1134,8 @@ static int fix_actions(struct action* a)
 						break;
 				}
 				if (ret == -1) {
-					LM_ALERT("BUG in route() type %d\n",
-						t->elem[0].type);
+					LM_ERR("failed to validate a route() statement (type %d)\n",
+					           t->elem[0].type);
 					ret = E_CFG;
 					goto error;
 				}