diff --git a/compiler/parampatterns.nim b/compiler/parampatterns.nim
index c2be4b1345..eb99004ab3 100644
--- a/compiler/parampatterns.nim
+++ b/compiler/parampatterns.nim
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ proc compileConstraints(p: PNode, result: var TPatternCode; conf: ConfigRef) =
       # check all symkinds:
       internalAssert conf, int(high(TSymKind)) < 255
       for i in TSymKind:
-        if cmpIgnoreStyle(($i).substr(2), spec) == 0:
+        if cmpIgnoreStyle(i.toHumanStr, spec) == 0:
           result.add(ppSymKind)
           result.add(chr(i.ord))
           return
diff --git a/compiler/semtypes.nim b/compiler/semtypes.nim
index 8ef393839a..f2bb82a5c0 100644
--- a/compiler/semtypes.nim
+++ b/compiler/semtypes.nim
@@ -1913,7 +1913,7 @@ proc semTypeNode(c: PContext, n: PNode, prev: PType): PType =
           localError(c.config, n.info, "type expected, but symbol '$1' has no type." % [s.name.s])
         else:
           localError(c.config, n.info, "type expected, but got symbol '$1' of kind '$2'" %
-            [s.name.s, substr($s.kind, 2)])
+            [s.name.s, s.kind.toHumanStr])
       result = newOrPrevType(tyError, prev, c)
   of nkObjectTy: result = semObjectNode(c, n, prev, isInheritable=false)
   of nkTupleTy: result = semTuple(c, n, prev)