diff --git a/lisp/dired-x.el b/lisp/dired-x.el
index dccaa9e96ca..84de13d7ef9 100644
--- a/lisp/dired-x.el
+++ b/lisp/dired-x.el
@@ -819,9 +819,8 @@ If in a Dired buffer, reverts it."
 replace it with a dir-locals-file `./%s.el'"
              dired-local-variables-file
              dir-locals-file))
-  (if (dir-locals--all-files default-directory)
-      (message "File `./%s' already exists."
-               (car (dir-locals--all-files default-directory)))
+  (if (file-exists-p dir-locals-file)
+      (message "File `./%s' already exists." dir-locals-file)
     (add-dir-local-variable 'dired-mode 'subdirs nil)
     (add-dir-local-variable 'dired-mode 'dired-omit-mode t)
     ;; Run extra-hooks and revert directory.