diff --git a/news/6419.bugfix b/news/6419.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..057b81d17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/6419.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix ``NameError`` when handling an invalid requirement.
diff --git a/src/pip/_internal/req/constructors.py b/src/pip/_internal/req/constructors.py
index 546d14b66..0f18b6a72 100644
--- a/src/pip/_internal/req/constructors.py
+++ b/src/pip/_internal/req/constructors.py
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ def install_req_from_req_string(
     try:
         req = Requirement(req_string)
     except InvalidRequirement:
-        raise InstallationError("Invalid requirement: '%s'" % req)
+        raise InstallationError("Invalid requirement: '%s'" % req_string)
 
     domains_not_allowed = [
         PyPI.file_storage_domain,
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_req_install.py b/tests/unit/test_req_install.py
index 95ce4cf4c..66a84e1ba 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_req_install.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_req_install.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import tempfile
 import pytest
 from pip._vendor.packaging.requirements import Requirement
 
+from pip._internal.exceptions import InstallationError
 from pip._internal.req.constructors import (
     install_req_from_line, install_req_from_req_string,
 )
@@ -49,6 +50,18 @@ class TestInstallRequirementBuildDirectory(object):
 
 class TestInstallRequirementFrom(object):
 
+    def test_install_req_from_string_invalid_requirement(self):
+        """
+        Requirement strings that cannot be parsed by
+        packaging.requirements.Requirement raise an InstallationError.
+        """
+        with pytest.raises(InstallationError) as excinfo:
+            install_req_from_req_string("http:/this/is/invalid")
+
+        assert str(excinfo.value) == (
+            "Invalid requirement: 'http:/this/is/invalid'"
+        )
+
     def test_install_req_from_string_without_comes_from(self):
         """
         Test to make sure that install_req_from_string succeeds