diff --git a/bin/dig/dig.c b/bin/dig/dig.c
index c7a50b5af2..6172d37796 100644
--- a/bin/dig/dig.c
+++ b/bin/dig/dig.c
@@ -1092,7 +1092,7 @@ plus_option(char *option, isc_boolean_t is_batchfile,
 			if (splitwidth)
 				splitwidth += 3;
 			if (result != ISC_R_SUCCESS)
-				fatal("Couldn't parse retries");
+				fatal("Couldn't parse split");
 			break;
 		case 't': /* stats */
 			FULLCHECK("stats");