{
        struct hsr_priv *hsr;
        struct hsr_port *port;
-       char designation;
+       const char *designation = NULL;
 
        hsr = netdev_priv(dev);
-       designation = '\0';
 
        hsr_for_each_port(hsr, port) {
                if (port->type == HSR_PT_MASTER)
                        continue;
                switch (port->type) {
                case HSR_PT_SLAVE_A:
-                       designation = 'A';
+                       designation = "Slave A";
                        break;
                case HSR_PT_SLAVE_B:
-                       designation = 'B';
+                       designation = "Slave B";
                        break;
                default:
-                       designation = '?';
+                       designation = "Unknown";
                }
                if (!is_slave_up(port->dev))
-                       netdev_warn(dev, "Slave %c (%s) is not up; please bring it up to get a fully working HSR network\n",
+                       netdev_warn(dev, "%s (%s) is not up; please bring it up to get a fully working HSR network\n",
                                    designation, port->dev->name);
        }
 
-       if (designation == '\0')
+       if (!designation)
                netdev_warn(dev, "No slave devices configured\n");
 
        return 0;