diff --git a/lisp/ChangeLog b/lisp/ChangeLog
index 202770d96af..00bb0c5606e 100644
--- a/lisp/ChangeLog
+++ b/lisp/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+2009-12-01  Stefan Monnier  <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca>
+
+	* simple.el (normal-erase-is-backspace-mode): Fix thinko in message.
+
 2009-12-01  Glenn Morris  <rgm@gnu.org>
 
 	* window.el (window--display-buffer-2): Fix previous changes.
diff --git a/lisp/simple.el b/lisp/simple.el
index ad9178e5838..65086dbfdfc 100644
--- a/lisp/simple.el
+++ b/lisp/simple.el
@@ -6455,7 +6455,7 @@ See also `normal-erase-is-backspace'."
     (run-hooks 'normal-erase-is-backspace-hook)
     (if (called-interactively-p 'interactive)
 	(message "Delete key deletes %s"
-		 (if (terminal-parameter nil 'normal-erase-is-backspace)
+		 (if (eq 1 (terminal-parameter nil 'normal-erase-is-backspace))
 		     "forward" "backward")))))
 
 (defvar vis-mode-saved-buffer-invisibility-spec nil