diff --git a/lisp/progmodes/flymake.el b/lisp/progmodes/flymake.el
index 11605bcf3a3..03eb776a8d4 100644
--- a/lisp/progmodes/flymake.el
+++ b/lisp/progmodes/flymake.el
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ instead of SOURCE-FILE-NAME.
 
 For example, foo.cpp is a master file if it includes foo.h.
 
-Whether a buffer for MATER-FILE-NAME exists, use it as a source
+When a buffer for MASTER-FILE-NAME exists, use it as a source
 instead of reading master file from disk."
   (let* ((source-file-nondir (file-name-nondirectory source-file-name))
          (source-file-extension (file-name-extension source-file-nondir))