diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/exporter.go b/exporters/prometheus/exporter.go
index 85dd53444d5..aa11ecfc31b 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/exporter.go
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/exporter.go
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ func validateMetrics(name, description string, metricType *dto.MetricType, mfs m
 		return false, emf.GetHelp()
 	}
 	if emf.GetType() != *metricType {
-		otel.Handle(fmt.Errorf("the type '%s' of instrument '%s' conflicts with existing type '%s', drop the new one. Please use a view that selects this instrument, and rename to a different name", *metricType, name, emf.GetType()))
+		otel.Handle(fmt.Errorf("the type %q of instrument %q conflicts with existing type %q, drop the new one. Please use a view that selects this instrument, and rename to a different name", *metricType, name, emf.GetType()))
 		return true, ""
 	}
 	return false, ""