diff --git a/src/cargo/core/compiler/fingerprint.rs b/src/cargo/core/compiler/fingerprint.rs
index 419c780ea..52adfadc7 100644
--- a/src/cargo/core/compiler/fingerprint.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/core/compiler/fingerprint.rs
@@ -1194,7 +1194,7 @@ impl StaleItem {
             } => {
                 info!("stale: changed {:?}", stale);
                 info!("          (vs) {:?}", reference);
-                info!("               {:?} != {:?}", reference_mtime, stale_mtime);
+                info!("               {:?} < {:?}", reference_mtime, stale_mtime);
             }
             StaleItem::ChangedEnv {
                 var,