diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/Watchdog.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/Watchdog.java
index 76f61b0b6..1c344ce88 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/Watchdog.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/Watchdog.java
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ public class Watchdog implements Runnable {
 
     public Watchdog(long timeout) {
         if (timeout < 1) {
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException("timeout lesser than 1.");
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("timeout less than 1.");
         }
         this.timeout = timeout;
     }