diff --git a/src/librustc/traits/specialize/mod.rs b/src/librustc/traits/specialize/mod.rs
index 50518d36e614..1c79190fd93b 100644
--- a/src/librustc/traits/specialize/mod.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/traits/specialize/mod.rs
@@ -342,11 +342,11 @@ pub(super) fn specialization_graph_provider<'a, 'tcx>(tcx: TyCtxt<'a, 'tcx, 'tcx
                 for cause in &overlap.intercrate_ambiguity_causes {
                     match cause {
                         &IntercrateAmbiguityCause::DownstreamCrate(def_id) => {
-                            err.note(&format!("downstream crates may implement {}",
+                            err.note(&format!("downstream crates may implement `{}`",
                                               tcx.item_path_str(def_id)));
                         }
                         &IntercrateAmbiguityCause::UpstreamCrateUpdate(def_id) => {
-                            err.note(&format!("upstream crates may add new impl for {} \
+                            err.note(&format!("upstream crates may add new impl for `{}` \
                                               in future versions",
                                               tcx.item_path_str(def_id)));
                         }
diff --git a/src/librustc_typeck/coherence/inherent_impls_overlap.rs b/src/librustc_typeck/coherence/inherent_impls_overlap.rs
index 07de54233041..e733b5328d3b 100644
--- a/src/librustc_typeck/coherence/inherent_impls_overlap.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_typeck/coherence/inherent_impls_overlap.rs
@@ -66,11 +66,11 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> InherentOverlapChecker<'a, 'tcx> {
                     for cause in &overlap.intercrate_ambiguity_causes {
                         match cause {
                             &IntercrateAmbiguityCause::DownstreamCrate(def_id) => {
-                                err.note(&format!("downstream crates may implement {}",
+                                err.note(&format!("downstream crates may implement `{}`",
                                                   self.tcx.item_path_str(def_id)));
                             }
                             &IntercrateAmbiguityCause::UpstreamCrateUpdate(def_id) => {
-                                err.note(&format!("upstream crates may add new impl for {} \
+                                err.note(&format!("upstream crates may add new impl for `{}` \
                                                   in future versions",
                                                   self.tcx.item_path_str(def_id)));
                             }