diff --git a/doc/misc/rcirc.texi b/doc/misc/rcirc.texi
index 6217781e2bd..b18ab2a6b29 100644
--- a/doc/misc/rcirc.texi
+++ b/doc/misc/rcirc.texi
@@ -935,7 +935,7 @@ how to include the date in the time stamp:
 
 @findex rcirc-when
 If you don't wish to use verbose time formatting all the time, you can
-use the @code{rcirc-when} command to printing a complete timestamp for
+use the @code{rcirc-when} command to display a complete timestamp for
 the message at point.
 
 @node Defining a new command
diff --git a/lisp/net/rcirc.el b/lisp/net/rcirc.el
index dda72a2a7f2..9a1153b3c6a 100644
--- a/lisp/net/rcirc.el
+++ b/lisp/net/rcirc.el
@@ -2048,7 +2048,7 @@ connection."
                             process sender response target text)))))
 
 (defun rcirc-when ()
-  "Print a message when the message at point was received."
+  "Show the time of reception of the message at point."
   (interactive)
   (if-let (time (get-text-property (point) 'rcirc-time))
       (message (format-time-string "%c" time))