diff --git a/src/json.hpp b/src/json.hpp
index 7f3b30bb..36d74ef0 100644
--- a/src/json.hpp
+++ b/src/json.hpp
@@ -11586,7 +11586,7 @@ class basic_json
 
                             // other characters after escape
                             default:
-                                error_message = "invalid string: forbidden character after backspace";
+                                error_message = "invalid string: forbidden character after backslash";
                                 return token_type::parse_error;
                         }
 
diff --git a/test/src/unit-class_parser.cpp b/test/src/unit-class_parser.cpp
index 5866b901..5a2ff350 100644
--- a/test/src/unit-class_parser.cpp
+++ b/test/src/unit-class_parser.cpp
@@ -798,7 +798,7 @@ TEST_CASE("parser class")
                     if (c > 0x1f)
                     {
                         CHECK_THROWS_WITH(parse_string(s.c_str()).parse(),
-                                          "[json.exception.parse_error.101] parse error at 3: syntax error - invalid string: forbidden character after backspace; last read '\"\\" + std::string(1, static_cast<char>(c)) + "'");
+                                          "[json.exception.parse_error.101] parse error at 3: syntax error - invalid string: forbidden character after backslash; last read '\"\\" + std::string(1, static_cast<char>(c)) + "'");
                     }
                     break;
                 }