diff --git a/scripts/headers_check.pl b/scripts/headers_check.pl
index e0e25a1c2c12..7957e7a5166a 100644
--- a/scripts/headers_check.pl
+++ b/scripts/headers_check.pl
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ sub check_declarations
 {
 	if ($line =~m/^(\s*extern|unsigned|char|short|int|long|void)\b/) {
 		printf STDERR "$filename:$lineno: " .
-		              "userspace cannot call function or variable " .
-		              "defined in the kernel\n";
+			      "userspace cannot reference function or " .
+			      "variable defined in the kernel\n";
 	}
 }