diff --git a/lib/libc/gen/popen.3 b/lib/libc/gen/popen.3
index b4371a26697..4793db49bbf 100644
--- a/lib/libc/gen/popen.3
+++ b/lib/libc/gen/popen.3
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ The only hint is an exit status of 127.
 .Pp
 The
 .Fn popen
-argument
+function
 always calls
 .Xr sh 1 ,
 never calls