diff --git a/cmd/fluxctl/portforward.go b/cmd/fluxctl/portforward.go
index 3b3d2db3bf..207a047646 100644
--- a/cmd/fluxctl/portforward.go
+++ b/cmd/fluxctl/portforward.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ func tryPortforwards(ns string, selectors ...metav1.LabelSelector) (p *portforwa
 			return
 		}
 
-		if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "Could not find pod for selector") {
+		if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "Could not find running pod for selector") {
 			return
 		} else {
 			message = fmt.Sprintf("%s\n  %s", message, metav1.FormatLabelSelector(&selector))