diff --git a/contrib/nvi/vi/v_cmd.c b/contrib/nvi/vi/v_cmd.c
index f77cd273cf08..e7ef6c4b7b6b 100644
--- a/contrib/nvi/vi/v_cmd.c
+++ b/contrib/nvi/vi/v_cmd.c
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ VIKEYS const vikeys [MAXVIKEY + 1] = {
 /* 034  ^\ */
 	{v_exmode,	0,
 	    "^\\",
-	    " ^\\ switch to ex mode"},
+	    "^\\ switch to ex mode"},
 /* 035  ^] */
 	{v_tagpush,	V_ABS|V_KEYW|VM_RCM_SET,
 	    "^]",