diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/JournalChecks.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/JournalChecks.hs
index 68ba523e2..e361f82b9 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/JournalChecks.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/JournalChecks.hs
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ journalCheckAccounts j = mapM_ checkacct (journalPostings j)
           ,"Consider adding an account directive. Examples:"
           ,""
           ,"account %s"
-          ]) f l ex (show a) a a
+          ]) f l ex (show a) a
         where
           (f,l,_mcols,ex) = makePostingAccountErrorExcerpt p
 
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/accounts.test b/hledger/test/errors/accounts.test
index b31160c65..3d5b01598 100644
--- a/hledger/test/errors/accounts.test
+++ b/hledger/test/errors/accounts.test
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ account "a" has not been declared.
 Consider adding an account directive. Examples:
 
 account a
-account a    ; type:A  ; \(L,E,R,X,C,V\)
 
 /
 >>>= 1