diff --git a/library/tools/errors.factor b/library/tools/errors.factor
index 33de4e618c..814f43396a 100644
--- a/library/tools/errors.factor
+++ b/library/tools/errors.factor
@@ -61,8 +61,7 @@ DEFER: objc-error. ( alien -- )
 : callstack-overflow. "Call" stack-overflow. ;
 
 : memory-error.
-    "Allocation of " write second pprint
-    " bytes failed due to insufficient room in data heap" print ;
+    "Data heap allocation request failed" print ;
 
 : kernel-error ( error -- word )
     #! Kernel errors are indexed by integers.
diff --git a/vm/data_gc.h b/vm/data_gc.h
index aea584c3b3..4b145b15d1 100644
--- a/vm/data_gc.h
+++ b/vm/data_gc.h
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ INLINE void maybe_gc(CELL a)
 		if(nursery.here + ALLOT_BUFFER_ZONE > nursery.limit)
 			critical_error("Out of memory in maybe_gc",0);
 		else
-			memory_error(a);
+			memory_error();
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/vm/run.c b/vm/run.c
index 368a31a53e..6b47d86293 100644
--- a/vm/run.c
+++ b/vm/run.c
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ void type_error(CELL type, CELL tagged)
 	general_error(ERROR_TYPE,tag_fixnum(type),tagged,true);
 }
 
-void memory_error(CELL bytes)
+void memory_error(void)
 {
-	general_error(ERROR_MEMORY,allot_cell(bytes),F,false);
+	general_error(ERROR_MEMORY,F,F,false);
 }
diff --git a/vm/run.h b/vm/run.h
index deeb4bf077..dda8f44f2e 100644
--- a/vm/run.h
+++ b/vm/run.h
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ void general_error(F_ERRORTYPE error, CELL arg1, CELL arg2, bool keep_stacks);
 void memory_protection_error(CELL addr, int signal);
 void signal_error(int signal);
 void type_error(CELL type, CELL tagged);
-void memory_error(CELL bytes);
+void memory_error(void);
 void primitive_throw(void);
 void primitive_die(void);