diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/cargo.py b/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/cargo.py
index 0aa31b48555..2fd952d8c2f 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/cargo.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/cargo.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 
 class CargoPackage(spack.package_base.PackageBase):
-    """Specialized class for packages built using a Makefiles."""
+    """Specialized class for packages built using cargo."""
 
     #: This attribute is used in UI queries that need to know the build
     #: system base class
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/makefile.py b/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/makefile.py
index baae2308a2f..915f71d3323 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/makefile.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/makefile.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 
 
 class MakefilePackage(spack.package_base.PackageBase):
-    """Specialized class for packages built using a Makefiles."""
+    """Specialized class for packages built using Makefiles."""
 
     #: This attribute is used in UI queries that need to know the build
     #: system base class