diff --git a/Modules/_zstd/decompressor.c b/Modules/_zstd/decompressor.c
index 13071b7a2bacf0..0186ee92f5b147 100644
--- a/Modules/_zstd/decompressor.c
+++ b/Modules/_zstd/decompressor.c
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ _zstd_set_d_parameters(ZstdDecompressor *self, PyObject *options)
         /* Check key type */
         if (Py_TYPE(key) == mod_state->CParameter_type) {
             PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError,
-                "compression options dictionary key must not be a "
+                "decompression options dictionary key must not be a "
                 "CompressionParameter attribute");
             return -1;
         }