diff --git a/lisp/startup.el b/lisp/startup.el
index 4d0e59ba4f3..6329e3ea8d0 100644
--- a/lisp/startup.el
+++ b/lisp/startup.el
@@ -1682,7 +1682,7 @@ Changed settings will be marked as \"CHANGED outside of Customize\"."
 
 (defcustom initial-scratch-message (purecopy "\
 ;; This buffer is for text that is not saved, and for Lisp evaluation.
-;; To create a file, visit it with \\[find-file] and enter text in its buffer.
+;; To create a file, visit it with `\\[find-file]' and enter text in its buffer.
 
 ")
   "Initial documentation displayed in *scratch* buffer at startup.