diff --git a/Cabal/src/Distribution/PackageDescription/Check.hs b/Cabal/src/Distribution/PackageDescription/Check.hs
index bbc486950ef..6610a736240 100644
--- a/Cabal/src/Distribution/PackageDescription/Check.hs
+++ b/Cabal/src/Distribution/PackageDescription/Check.hs
@@ -1164,7 +1164,7 @@ checkCabalVersion pkg =
     (not . null $ extraDocFiles pkg) $
       PackageDistInexcusable $
            "To use the 'extra-doc-files' field the package needs to specify "
-        ++ "at least 'cabal-version: >= 1.18'."
+        ++ "at least 'cabal-version: 1.18'."
 
   , checkVersion CabalSpecV2_0
     (not (null (subLibraries pkg))) $