diff --git a/collects/scheme/private/norm-define.ss b/collects/scheme/private/norm-define.ss
index f015b6eb6e..33ede31594 100644
--- a/collects/scheme/private/norm-define.ss
+++ b/collects/scheme/private/norm-define.ss
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 	    [(_ id expr0 expr ...)
 	     "bad syntax (multiple expressions after identifier)"]
 	    [(_ id)
-	     "bad syntax (zero expressions after identifier)"]
+	     "bad syntax (missing expression after identifier)"]
 	    [(_ id . rest)
 	     "bad syntax (illegal use of `.')"])
 	  stx)]