diff --git a/src/wp-includes/widgets.php b/src/wp-includes/widgets.php
index 3b4944023c..719b273f73 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/widgets.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/widgets.php
@@ -1037,7 +1037,8 @@ function the_widget( $widget, $instance = array(), $args = array() ) {
 	global $wp_widget_factory;
 
 	if ( ! isset( $wp_widget_factory->widgets[ $widget ] ) ) {
-		_doing_it_wrong( __FUNCTION__, __( 'Widgets need to be registered before they can be displayed.' ), '4.9.0' );
+		/* translators: %s: register_widget() */
+		_doing_it_wrong( __FUNCTION__, sprintf( __( 'Widgets need to be registered using %s, before they can be displayed.' ), '<code>register_widget()</code>' ), '4.9.0' );
 		return;
 	}