diff --git a/mercurial/sshpeer.py b/mercurial/sshpeer.py
--- a/mercurial/sshpeer.py
+++ b/mercurial/sshpeer.py
@@ -204,8 +204,10 @@
         self._pipeo = doublepipe(self.ui, self._pipeo, self._pipee)
 
         def badresponse():
-            self._abort(error.RepoError(_('no suitable response from '
-                                          'remote hg')))
+            self._abort(error.RepoError(self.ui.config(
+                "ssh",
+                "errormessage",
+                _("no suitable response from remote hg"))))
 
         try:
             # skip any noise generated by remote shell