diff --git a/lib/dgram.js b/lib/dgram.js
index eaf84272d16284..a56e08f4a43dd7 100644
--- a/lib/dgram.js
+++ b/lib/dgram.js
@@ -252,9 +252,8 @@ Socket.prototype.send = function(buffer,
 
   if (typeof buffer === 'string')
     buffer = new Buffer(buffer);
-
-  if (!(buffer instanceof Buffer))
-    throw new TypeError('First argument must be a buffer or string.');
+  else if (!(buffer instanceof Buffer))
+    throw new TypeError('First argument must be a buffer or string');
 
   offset = offset | 0;
   if (offset < 0)