diff --git a/emcc.py b/emcc.py
index 28cd5249ea651..5648d41431293 100755
--- a/emcc.py
+++ b/emcc.py
@@ -2405,7 +2405,7 @@ def phase_linker_setup(options, state, newargs):
       settings.DEFAULT_LIBRARY_FUNCS_TO_INCLUDE += ['$runtimeKeepalivePush']
   else:
     if settings.PROXY_TO_PTHREAD:
-      exit_with_error('-sPROXY_TO_PTHREAD requires -pthread work!')
+      exit_with_error('-sPROXY_TO_PTHREAD requires -pthread to work!')
     settings.JS_LIBRARIES.append((0, 'library_pthread_stub.js'))
 
   # TODO: Move this into the library JS file once it becomes possible.