diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Lint/CheckUnknownTraitFields.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Lint/CheckUnknownTraitFields.cs
index 5dba154a14..cbd41ad6b1 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Lint/CheckUnknownTraitFields.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Lint/CheckUnknownTraitFields.cs
@@ -37,18 +37,19 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Lint
 					// Removals can never define children
 					if (t.Key.StartsWith("-", StringComparison.Ordinal) && t.Value.Nodes.Any())
 					{
-						emitError("{0} has child nodes, which is not valid for removals.".F(t.Key));
+						emitError("{0} defines child nodes, which are not valid for removals.".F(t.Location));
 						continue;
 					}
 
+					var traitName = NormalizeName(t.Key);
+
 					// Inherits can never define children
-					if (NormalizeName(t.Key) == "Inherits" && t.Value.Nodes.Any())
+					if (traitName == "Inherits" && t.Value.Nodes.Any())
 					{
 						emitError("{0} defines child nodes, which are not valid for Inherits.".F(t.Location));
 						continue;
 					}
 
-					var traitName = NormalizeName(t.Key);
 					var traitInfo = modData.ObjectCreator.FindType(traitName + "Info");
 					foreach (var field in t.Value.Nodes)
 					{