diff --git a/usr.bin/top/display.c b/usr.bin/top/display.c
index 77d2a5300bb8..415faeba52c5 100644
--- a/usr.bin/top/display.c
+++ b/usr.bin/top/display.c
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ i_procstates(int total, int *brkdn)
     int i;
 
     /* write current number of processes and remember the value */
-    printf("%d processes:", total);
+    printf("%d %s:", total, (ps.thread) ? "threads" :"processes");
     ltotal = total;
 
     /* put out enough spaces to get to column 15 */