diff --git a/lib/libc/sys/mkdir.2 b/lib/libc/sys/mkdir.2
index e5d0b7eb7e7a..477833a3878e 100644
--- a/lib/libc/sys/mkdir.2
+++ b/lib/libc/sys/mkdir.2
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ see the
 .Xr chflags 2
 manual page for more information.
 .It Bq Er EROFS
-The named file resides on a read-only file system.
+The named directory would reside on a read-only file system.
 .It Bq Er EEXIST
 The named file exists.
 .It Bq Er ENOSPC
diff --git a/lib/libc/sys/mkfifo.2 b/lib/libc/sys/mkfifo.2
index 68b785811bbd..eec49d4aa1db 100644
--- a/lib/libc/sys/mkfifo.2
+++ b/lib/libc/sys/mkfifo.2
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ is denied on the parent directory of the fifo to be created.
 .It Bq Er ELOOP
 Too many symbolic links were encountered in translating the pathname.
 .It Bq Er EROFS
-The named file resides on a read-only file system.
+The named file would reside on a read-only file system.
 .It Bq Er EEXIST
 The named file exists.
 .It Bq Er EPERM