diff --git a/bin/cp/utils.c b/bin/cp/utils.c
index c40204f7ff7d..e4c11fe3e8fb 100644
--- a/bin/cp/utils.c
+++ b/bin/cp/utils.c
@@ -426,8 +426,8 @@ usage(void)
 {
 
 	(void)fprintf(stderr, "%s\n%s\n",
-"usage: cp [-R [-H | -L | -P]] [-f | -i | -n] [-aplv] source_file target_file",
-"       cp [-R [-H | -L | -P]] [-f | -i | -n] [-aplv] source_file ... "
+"usage: cp [-R [-H | -L | -P]] [-f | -i | -n] [-plv] source_file target_file",
+"       cp [-R [-H | -L | -P]] [-f | -i | -n] [-plv] source_file ... "
 "target_directory");
 	exit(EX_USAGE);
 }