diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Balancing.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Balancing.hs
index b222d0338..b3f78e780 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Balancing.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Balancing.hs
@@ -670,7 +670,7 @@ checkBalanceAssertionOneCommodityB p@Posting{paccount=assertedacct} assertedcomm
         "%s\n",
         "Balance assertion failed in %s",
         "%s at this point, %s, ignoring costs,",
-        "the expected balance is:        %s",
+        "the asserted balance is:        %s",
         "but the calculated balance is:  %s",
         "(difference: %s)",
         "To troubleshoot, check this account's running balance with assertions disabled, eg:",
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/assertions.test b/hledger/test/errors/assertions.test
index ed86f1526..112dcb25f 100644
--- a/hledger/test/errors/assertions.test
+++ b/hledger/test/errors/assertions.test
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ $ hledger check -f assertions.j
 
 Balance assertion failed in a
 In commodity "" at this point, excluding subaccounts, ignoring costs,
-the expected balance is:        1
+the asserted balance is:        1
 but the calculated balance is:  0
 \(difference: 1\)
 /