diff --git a/tools/build/options/makeman b/tools/build/options/makeman
index 9a8d5ffe4806..f05b6863a88d 100644
--- a/tools/build/options/makeman
+++ b/tools/build/options/makeman
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ variable
 .Va SRCCONF .
 Overriding the location of
 .Nm
-maybe necessary if the system-wide settings are not suitable
+may be necessary if the system-wide settings are not suitable
 for a particular build.
 For instance, setting
 .Va SRCCONF