diff --git a/changelog.d/7760.bugfix b/changelog.d/7760.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..f6081f3d30be1f6297f69611c2fcf5a89e5b3576
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/7760.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix incorrect error message when database CTYPE was set incorrectly.
diff --git a/synapse/storage/engines/postgres.py b/synapse/storage/engines/postgres.py
index 6c7d08a6f2343a6f5f5a20f3c11421df8fbec285..a31588080dd1a6fecb1e0bd863f7823c469ee391 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/engines/postgres.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/engines/postgres.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ class PostgresEngine(BaseDatabaseEngine):
             errors.append("    - 'COLLATE' is set to %r. Should be 'C'" % (collation,))
 
         if ctype != "C":
-            errors.append("    - 'CTYPE' is set to %r. Should be 'C'" % (collation,))
+            errors.append("    - 'CTYPE' is set to %r. Should be 'C'" % (ctype,))
 
         if errors:
             raise IncorrectDatabaseSetup(