diff --git a/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Option.c b/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Option.c
index c2ec79a53..40c9d15f4 100644
--- a/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Option.c
+++ b/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Option.c
@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ ParseOptionValue(int scrnIndex, XF86OptionPtr options, OptionInfoPtr p,
             if (*s == '\0') {
                 if (markUsed) {
                     xf86DrvMsg(scrnIndex, X_WARNING,
-                               "Option \"%s\" requires an string value\n",
+                               "Option \"%s\" requires a string value\n",
                                p->name);
                 }
                 p->found = FALSE;
diff --git a/hw/xwin/winconfig.c b/hw/xwin/winconfig.c
index 313320f1a..9e38113a5 100644
--- a/hw/xwin/winconfig.c
+++ b/hw/xwin/winconfig.c
@@ -762,7 +762,7 @@ ParseOptionValue(int scrnIndex, pointer options, OptionInfoPtr p)
         case OPTV_STRING:
             if (*s == '\0') {
                 winDrvMsg(scrnIndex, X_WARNING,
-                          "Option \"%s\" requires an string value\n", p->name);
+                          "Option \"%s\" requires a string value\n", p->name);
                 p->found = FALSE;
             }
             else {