diff --git a/delete.go b/delete.go
index 0c51281e..75a62994 100644
--- a/delete.go
+++ b/delete.go
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ status of "ubuntu01" as "stopped" the following will delete resources held for
 					if err := os.RemoveAll(path); err != nil {
 						fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "remove %s: %v\n", path, err)
 					}
-					fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "container %s is not exist\n", id)
+					fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "container %s does not exist\n", id)
 				}
 				hasError = true
 				continue
diff --git a/pause.go b/pause.go
index ffdd984e..208cea4f 100644
--- a/pause.go
+++ b/pause.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ Use runc list to identiy instances of containers and their current status.`,
 		for _, id := range context.Args() {
 			container, err := factory.Load(id)
 			if err != nil {
-				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "container %s is not exist\n", id)
+				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "container %s does not exist\n", id)
 				hasError = true
 				continue
 			}
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ Use runc list to identiy instances of containers and their current status.`,
 		for _, id := range context.Args() {
 			container, err := factory.Load(id)
 			if err != nil {
-				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "container %s is not exist\n", id)
+				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "container %s does not exist\n", id)
 				hasError = true
 				continue
 			}
diff --git a/start.go b/start.go
index 30d7d8fd..af2fb46b 100644
--- a/start.go
+++ b/start.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ your host.`,
 		for _, id := range context.Args() {
 			container, err := factory.Load(id)
 			if err != nil {
-				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "container %s is not exist\n", id)
+				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "container %s does not exist\n", id)
 				hasError = true
 				continue
 			}