diff --git a/builtin/apply.c b/builtin/apply.c
index ef32e4f624..c201f0e6b0 100644
--- a/builtin/apply.c
+++ b/builtin/apply.c
@@ -3662,7 +3662,7 @@ static void build_fake_ancestor(struct patch *list, const char *filename)
 			if (!preimage_sha1_in_gitlink_patch(patch, sha1))
 				; /* ok, the textual part looks sane */
 			else
-				die("sha1 information is lacking or useless for submoule %s",
+				die("sha1 information is lacking or useless for submodule %s",
 				    name);
 		} else if (!get_sha1_blob(patch->old_sha1_prefix, sha1)) {
 			; /* ok */