diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/reporting/diagnostic/messages.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/reporting/diagnostic/messages.scala
index 1dd469df6b85..3abc06caddf7 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/reporting/diagnostic/messages.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/reporting/diagnostic/messages.scala
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ object messages {
       }
 
       val closeMember = closest match {
-        case (n, sym) :: Nil => hl""" - did you mean `${s"$siteName.$n"}`?"""
+        case (n, sym) :: Nil => s" - did you mean `$siteName.$n`?"
         case Nil => ""
         case _ => assert(
           false,