diff --git a/src/go/rpk/pkg/cli/cmd/topic/add_partitions.go b/src/go/rpk/pkg/cli/cmd/topic/add_partitions.go
index fbabe92a3772..d6b208d78aa0 100644
--- a/src/go/rpk/pkg/cli/cmd/topic/add_partitions.go
+++ b/src/go/rpk/pkg/cli/cmd/topic/add_partitions.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func NewAddPartitionsCommand(fs afero.Fs) *cobra.Command {
 					if errors.Is(e, kerr.InvalidPartitions) && num > 0 {
 						msg = fmt.Sprintf("INVALID_PARTITIONS: unable to add %d partitions due to hardware constraints", num)
 					} else {
-						msg = err.Error()
+						msg = e.Error()
 					}
 					exit1 = true
 				}