diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/flake/flake.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/flake/flake.py
index 612bf3fbb..7f8ef9a5e 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/flake/flake.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/flake/flake.py
@@ -881,7 +881,7 @@ class Flake:
                 in str(e)
             ):
                 raise FlakeDoesNotExistError(self.identifier) from e
-            if "error: could not find a flake.nix file":
+            if "error: could not find a flake.nix file" in str(e):
                 raise FlakeInvalidError(self.identifier) from e
             raise