diff --git a/collects/racket/file.rkt b/collects/racket/file.rkt
index aa26740bb3..93b83c6839 100644
--- a/collects/racket/file.rkt
+++ b/collects/racket/file.rkt
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@
                       (lambda ()
                         (if use-lock? 
                             (call-with-file-lock
-                             'get-preferences
+                             'get-preference
                              'shared
                              (lambda ()
                                (make-lock-file-name pref-file))