diff --git a/direct/src/p3d/pmerge.py b/direct/src/p3d/pmerge.py
index f766f7a9fe..af06ca0537 100755
--- a/direct/src/p3d/pmerge.py
+++ b/direct/src/p3d/pmerge.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ for opt, arg in opts:
     elif opt == '-h':
         usage(0)
     else:
-        print 'illegal option: ' + flag
+        print 'illegal option: ' + arg
         sys.exit(1)
 
 inputDirs = []
diff --git a/direct/src/p3d/ppackage.py b/direct/src/p3d/ppackage.py
index 563e31b3a6..1cb1815b56 100755
--- a/direct/src/p3d/ppackage.py
+++ b/direct/src/p3d/ppackage.py
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ for opt, arg in opts:
     elif opt == '-h':
         usage(0)
     else:
-        print 'illegal option: ' + flag
+        print 'illegal option: ' + arg
         sys.exit(1)
 
 if not args:
diff --git a/direct/src/p3d/ppatcher.py b/direct/src/p3d/ppatcher.py
index 5b87399c6f..3f2ef16b67 100755
--- a/direct/src/p3d/ppatcher.py
+++ b/direct/src/p3d/ppatcher.py
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ for opt, arg in opts:
     elif opt == '-h':
         usage(0)
     else:
-        print 'illegal option: ' + flag
+        print 'illegal option: ' + arg
         sys.exit(1)
 
 packageNames = args