diff --git a/usr.sbin/sysrc/sysrc.8 b/usr.sbin/sysrc/sysrc.8
index 3996b1f9482c..075fc3bd8a1e 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/sysrc/sysrc.8
+++ b/usr.sbin/sysrc/sysrc.8
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ When using the
 .Ql key+=value
 syntax to add items to existing values,
 the first character of the value is taken as the delimiter separating items
-.Pq usually Qo (space) Qc or Qo , Qc .
+.Pq usually Qo " " Qc or Qo , Qc .
 For example, in the following statement:
 .Bl -item -offset indent
 .It
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ When using the
 .Ql key-=value
 syntax to remove items from existing values,
 the first character of the value is taken as the delimiter separating items
-.Pq usually Qo \  Qc or Qo , Qc .
+.Pq usually Qo " " Qc or Qo , Qc .
 For example, in the following statement:
 .Pp
 .Dl Nm cloned_interfaces-=" gif0"