diff --git a/net/hsr/hsr_device.c b/net/hsr/hsr_device.c
index c98b5b71ad7c..e9d45133d641 100644
--- a/net/hsr/hsr_device.c
+++ b/net/hsr/hsr_device.c
@@ -132,30 +132,29 @@ static int hsr_dev_open(struct net_device *dev)
 {
 	struct hsr_priv *hsr;
 	struct hsr_port *port;
-	char designation;
+	const char *designation = NULL;
 
 	hsr = netdev_priv(dev);
-	designation = '\0';
 
 	hsr_for_each_port(hsr, port) {
 		if (port->type == HSR_PT_MASTER)
 			continue;
 		switch (port->type) {
 		case HSR_PT_SLAVE_A:
-			designation = 'A';
+			designation = "Slave A";
 			break;
 		case HSR_PT_SLAVE_B:
-			designation = 'B';
+			designation = "Slave B";
 			break;
 		default:
-			designation = '?';
+			designation = "Unknown";
 		}
 		if (!is_slave_up(port->dev))
-			netdev_warn(dev, "Slave %c (%s) is not up; please bring it up to get a fully working HSR network\n",
+			netdev_warn(dev, "%s (%s) is not up; please bring it up to get a fully working HSR network\n",
 				    designation, port->dev->name);
 	}
 
-	if (designation == '\0')
+	if (!designation)
 		netdev_warn(dev, "No slave devices configured\n");
 
 	return 0;