diff --git a/cloudinit/url_helper.py b/cloudinit/url_helper.py
index d409e322858..eb2442993b5 100644
--- a/cloudinit/url_helper.py
+++ b/cloudinit/url_helper.py
@@ -739,7 +739,7 @@ def read_url_handle_exceptions(
         time_taken = int(time.monotonic() - start_time)
         max_wait_str = "%ss" % max_wait if max_wait else "unlimited"
         status_msg = "Calling '%s' failed [%s/%s]: %s" % (
-            url or getattr(url_exc, "url", "url ? None"),
+            url or getattr(url_exc, "url", "url"),
             time_taken,
             max_wait_str,
             reason,