diff --git a/lib/libc/sys/mkfifo.2 b/lib/libc/sys/mkfifo.2
index 22aba736d857..68b785811bbd 100644
--- a/lib/libc/sys/mkfifo.2
+++ b/lib/libc/sys/mkfifo.2
@@ -79,9 +79,8 @@ or an entire path name exceeded 1023 characters.
 .It Bq Er ENOENT
 A component of the path prefix does not exist.
 .It Bq Er EACCES
-Search permission is denied for a component of the path prefix.
-.It Bq Er EACCES
-Write permission is denied for a component of the path prefix.
+A component of the path prefix denies search permission, or write permission
+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
diff --git a/lib/libc/sys/symlink.2 b/lib/libc/sys/symlink.2
index dd17f08484a5..71e1f39ef256 100644
--- a/lib/libc/sys/symlink.2
+++ b/lib/libc/sys/symlink.2
@@ -78,11 +78,8 @@ path prefix does not exist.
 .It Bq Er EACCES
 A component of the
 .Fa name2
-path prefix denies search permission.
-.It Bq Er EACCES
-A component of the
-.Fa name2
-path prefix denies write permission.
+path prefix denies search permission, or write permission is denied on the
+parent directory of the file to be created.
 .It Bq Er ELOOP
 Too many symbolic links were encountered in translating the
 .Fa name2