diff --git a/lib/main.js b/lib/main.js
index d6bed7d..6b9e2a6 100644
--- a/lib/main.js
+++ b/lib/main.js
@@ -18,9 +18,12 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
+var format = require('@stdlib/error-tools-fmtprodmsg');
+
 // MODULES //
 
 var isReadOnly = require( '@stdlib/ndarray-base-assert-is-read-only' );
+
 var getDType = require( '@stdlib/ndarray-dtype' );
 var getShape = require( '@stdlib/ndarray-shape' );
 var getStrides = require( '@stdlib/ndarray-strides' );
@@ -30,12 +33,10 @@ var getData = require( '@stdlib/ndarray-data-buffer' );
 var ndarray = require( '@stdlib/ndarray-ctor' );
 var defaults = require( '@stdlib/ndarray-defaults' );
 
-
 // VARIABLES //
 
 var DEFAULT_ORDER = defaults( 'order' );
 
-
 // MAIN //
 
 /**
@@ -88,13 +89,12 @@ function ndarraylike2ndarray( x ) {
 			// Preserve read-only behavior...
 			opts.readonly = true;
 		} else if ( opts.readonly === false ) {
-			throw new Error( 'invalid argument. Cannot write to a read-only array.' );
+			throw new Error( format('nullEs') );
 		}
 	}
 	return new ndarray( dt, data, shape, strides, offset, order, opts );
 }
 
-
 // EXPORTS //
 
 module.exports = ndarraylike2ndarray;
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index ff23c3c..2957cb2 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
     "@stdlib/assert-is-collection": "^0.2.3",
     "@stdlib/ndarray-array": "^0.2.3",
     "@stdlib/ndarray-base-ctor": "^0.3.1",
-    "@stdlib/string-format": "^0.2.3",
+    "@stdlib/error-tools-fmtprodmsg": "^0.2.3",
     "tape": "git+https://github.com/kgryte/tape.git#fix/globby",
     "istanbul": "^0.4.1",
     "tap-min": "git+https://github.com/Planeshifter/tap-min.git",