diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/patmat/Space.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/patmat/Space.scala
index b1d1d77215ba..4810929822ea 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/patmat/Space.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/patmat/Space.scala
@@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ class SpaceEngine(implicit ctx: Context) extends SpaceLogic {
         else if (scalaListType.isRef(sym))
           if (mergeList) "_*" else "_: List"
         else if (scalaConsType.isRef(sym))
-          if (mergeList) "_" else "List(_)"
+          if (mergeList) "_, _*"  else "List(_, _*)"
         else if (tp.classSymbol.is(CaseClass) && !hasCustomUnapply(tp.classSymbol))
         // use constructor syntax for case class
           showType(tp) + signature(tp).map(_ => "_").mkString("(", ", ", ")")
diff --git a/tests/patmat/exhausting.check b/tests/patmat/exhausting.check
index 6cb6db364892..51d2272add39 100644
--- a/tests/patmat/exhausting.check
+++ b/tests/patmat/exhausting.check
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-21: Pattern Match Exhaustivity: List(_), List(_, _, _)
+21: Pattern Match Exhaustivity: List(_), List(_, _, _, _*)
 27: Pattern Match Exhaustivity: Nil
 32: Pattern Match Exhaustivity: List(_, _*)
 39: Pattern Match Exhaustivity: Bar3
diff --git a/tests/patmat/t4408.check b/tests/patmat/t4408.check
index 2bd8b583f551..c8f296e85367 100644
--- a/tests/patmat/t4408.check
+++ b/tests/patmat/t4408.check
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2: Pattern Match Exhaustivity: List(_, _, _)
+2: Pattern Match Exhaustivity: List(_, _, _, _*)
diff --git a/tests/patmat/t5440.check b/tests/patmat/t5440.check
index 511fcc6b44f0..7c04baaa0d81 100644
--- a/tests/patmat/t5440.check
+++ b/tests/patmat/t5440.check
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2: Pattern Match Exhaustivity: (Nil, List(_)), (List(_), Nil)
+2: Pattern Match Exhaustivity: (Nil, List(_, _*)), (List(_, _*), Nil)