diff --git a/container_test.go b/container_test.go
index bea5ef02c0..80320af310 100644
--- a/container_test.go
+++ b/container_test.go
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ func Test_GetLogsFromFailedContainer(t *testing.T) {
 		Started:          true,
 	})
 
-	if err != nil && err.Error() != "container exited with code 0: failed to start container" {
+	if err != nil && err.Error() != "failed to start container: container exited with code 0" {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	} else if err == nil {
 		terminateContainerOnEnd(t, ctx, c)
diff --git a/generic.go b/generic.go
index ad851b3de1..65fec35c88 100644
--- a/generic.go
+++ b/generic.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func GenericContainer(ctx context.Context, req GenericContainerRequest) (Contain
 
 	if req.Started && !c.IsRunning() {
 		if err := c.Start(ctx); err != nil {
-			return c, fmt.Errorf("%w: failed to start container", err)
+			return c, fmt.Errorf("failed to start container: %w", err)
 		}
 	}
 	return c, nil