diff --git a/Documentation/networking/ip-sysctl.txt b/Documentation/networking/ip-sysctl.txt
index d0536b5a4e0..f350c69b2bb 100644
--- a/Documentation/networking/ip-sysctl.txt
+++ b/Documentation/networking/ip-sysctl.txt
@@ -903,7 +903,7 @@ arp_ignore - INTEGER
 arp_notify - BOOLEAN
 	Define mode for notification of address and device changes.
 	0 - (default): do nothing
-	1 - Generate gratuitous arp replies when device is brought up
+	1 - Generate gratuitous arp requests when device is brought up
 	    or hardware address changes.
 
 arp_accept - BOOLEAN