diff --git a/hy/compiler.py b/hy/compiler.py
index 05a2fd5..41119f1 100644
--- a/hy/compiler.py
+++ b/hy/compiler.py
@@ -461,7 +461,7 @@ class HyASTCompiler(object):
                 except StopIteration:
                     raise HyTypeError(expr,
                                       "Keyword argument {kw} needs "
-                                      "a value.".format(kw=str(expr)))
+                                      "a value.".format(kw=str(expr[1:])))
 
                 compiled_value = self.compile(value)
                 ret += compiled_value
diff --git a/tests/compilers/test_ast.py b/tests/compilers/test_ast.py
index 633c3bb..dd6ae59 100644
--- a/tests/compilers/test_ast.py
+++ b/tests/compilers/test_ast.py
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ def test_missing_keyword_argument_value():
     try:
         can_compile("((fn [x] x) :x)")
     except HyTypeError as e:
-        assert(e.message == "Keyword argument \ufdd0:x needs a value.")
+        assert(e.message == "Keyword argument :x needs a value.")
     else:
         assert(False)