diff --git a/lib/babel/api/register/resolve-rc.js b/lib/babel/api/register/resolve-rc.js
index bcef17fb01..1e82938aea 100644
--- a/lib/babel/api/register/resolve-rc.js
+++ b/lib/babel/api/register/resolve-rc.js
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ module.exports = function (loc, opts) {
       try {
         json = JSON.parse(content);
       } catch (err) {
-        err.filename = file + ": " + err.filename;
+        err.message = file + ": " + err.message;
         throw err;
       }