diff --git a/emacs/notmuch-show.el b/emacs/notmuch-show.el
index 6d410574..de9421e8 100644
--- a/emacs/notmuch-show.el
+++ b/emacs/notmuch-show.el
@@ -1431,7 +1431,7 @@ buffer."
 	(goto-char (point-max))))))
 
 (defun notmuch-show-previous-open-message ()
-  "Show the previous message."
+  "Show the previous open message."
   (interactive)
   (while (and (notmuch-show-goto-message-previous)
 	      (not (notmuch-show-message-visible-p))))