diff --git a/tools/perf/util/genelf.c b/tools/perf/util/genelf.c
index c540d47583e7..aafbe54fd3fa 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/genelf.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/genelf.c
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ gen_build_id(struct buildid_note *note,
 
 	fd = open("/dev/urandom", O_RDONLY);
 	if (fd == -1)
-		err(1, "cannot access /dev/urandom for builid");
+		err(1, "cannot access /dev/urandom for buildid");
 
 	sret = read(fd, note->build_id, sz);