diff --git a/src/filelock.c b/src/filelock.c
index 8fa86e64eb8..67948e1f099 100644
--- a/src/filelock.c
+++ b/src/filelock.c
@@ -898,8 +898,8 @@ syms_of_filelock (void)
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("create-lockfiles", create_lockfiles,
 	       doc: /* Non-nil means use lockfiles to avoid editing collisions.
-The name of the (per-buffer) lockfile is constructed by prepending a
-'.#' to the name of the file being locked.  See also `lock-buffer' and
+The name of the (per-buffer) lockfile is constructed by prepending
+".#" to the name of the file being locked.  See also `lock-buffer' and
 Info node `(emacs)Interlocking'.  */);
   create_lockfiles = true;