diff --git a/lib/libutil/flopen.3 b/lib/libutil/flopen.3
index 63c0de32e72..14f249a5ba3 100644
--- a/lib/libutil/flopen.3
+++ b/lib/libutil/flopen.3
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ It is essentially equivalent with calling
 with the same parameters followed by
 .Fn flock
 with an
-.Va operation
+.Fa operation
 argument of
 .Dv LOCK_EX ,
 except that
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ files, mailboxes and other kinds of files which are used for
 synchronization between processes.
 .Pp
 If
-.Va flags
+.Fa flags
 includes
 .Dv O_NONBLOCK
 and the file is already locked,
@@ -79,9 +79,9 @@ to
 As with
 .Fn open ,
 the additional
-.Va mode
+.Fa mode
 argument is required if
-.Va flags
+.Fa flags
 includes
 .Dv O_CREAT .
 .Pp