diff --git a/python/mxnet/ndarray/ndarray.py b/python/mxnet/ndarray/ndarray.py
index 60b3834054db..c5924653f386 100644
--- a/python/mxnet/ndarray/ndarray.py
+++ b/python/mxnet/ndarray/ndarray.py
@@ -869,7 +869,7 @@ def _sync_copyfrom(self, source_array):
         source_array = np.asarray(source_array, dtype=self.dtype, order='C')
         if source_array.shape != self.shape:
             raise ValueError('Shape inconsistent: expected %s vs got %s'%(
-                str(self.shape), str(source_array.shape)))
+                str(source_array.shape), str(self.shape)))
         check_call(_LIB.MXNDArraySyncCopyFromCPU(
             self.handle,
             source_array.ctypes.data_as(ctypes.c_void_p),