diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cli/parser.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cli/parser.rb
index 5937d66a1f..2cbafcbcc8 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cli/parser.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cli/parser.rb
@@ -533,8 +533,8 @@ module Homebrew
 
     class OptionConstraintError < UsageError
       def initialize(arg1, arg2, missing: false)
-        arg1 = arg1.length > 1 ? "--#{arg1.tr("_", "-")}" : "-#{arg1.tr("_", "-")}"
-        arg2 = arg2.length > 1 ? "--#{arg2.tr("_", "-")}" : "-#{arg2.tr("_", "-")}"
+        arg1 = dashes(arg1) + arg1.tr("_", "-")
+        arg2 = dashes(arg2) + arg2.tr("_", "-")
 
         message = if missing
           "`#{arg2}` cannot be passed without `#{arg1}`."
@@ -543,6 +543,10 @@ module Homebrew
         end
         super message
       end
+
+      def dashes(arg)
+        arg.length > 1 ? "--" : "-"
+      end
     end
 
     class OptionConflictError < UsageError