diff --git a/lib/path.js b/lib/path.js
index 351a3e81a3bfc0..d1bef35355af73 100644
--- a/lib/path.js
+++ b/lib/path.js
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ const win32 = {
       let path;
       if (i >= 0) {
         path = args[i];
-        validateString(path, 'path');
+        validateString(path, `paths[${i}]`);
 
         // Skip empty entries
         if (path.length === 0) {
@@ -1094,8 +1094,7 @@ const posix = {
 
     for (let i = args.length - 1; i >= -1 && !resolvedAbsolute; i--) {
       const path = i >= 0 ? args[i] : posixCwd();
-
-      validateString(path, 'path');
+      validateString(path, `paths[${i}]`);
 
       // Skip empty entries
       if (path.length === 0) {