diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/api.py b/r2/r2/controllers/api.py
index 87f8d5259..9a96c9e3d 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/api.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/api.py
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ class ApiController(RedditController):
                    VUser(),
                    VModhash(),
                    ip = ValidIP(),
-                   to = VMessageRecipent('to'),
+                   to = VMessageRecipient('to'),
                    subject = VRequired('subject', errors.NO_SUBJECT),
                    body = VMarkdown(['text', 'message']))
     def POST_compose(self, form, jquery, to, subject, body, ip):
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py b/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py
index 1fa28b4b9..040f6e701 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py
@@ -895,7 +895,7 @@ class VExistingUname(VRequired):
                 return self.error(errors.USER_DOESNT_EXIST)
         self.error()
 
-class VMessageRecipent(VExistingUname):
+class VMessageRecipient(VExistingUname):
     def run(self, name):
         if not name:
             return self.error()