diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Journal.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Journal.hs
index c390cafb9..154649cdb 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Journal.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Journal.hs
@@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ checkBalanceAssertion (errs,startbal) ps
                       "a balance assertion failed on %s",
                       "in account %s",
                       "in commodity %s",
-                      "asserted balance was %s, actual balance was %s (difference: %s)",
+                      "asserted balance is %s, calculated balance is %s (difference: %s)",
                       "after posting:",
                       "%s",
                       "%s"