diff --git a/lisp/vc/diff-mode.el b/lisp/vc/diff-mode.el
index 4810b9ce01c..be3d94db011 100644
--- a/lisp/vc/diff-mode.el
+++ b/lisp/vc/diff-mode.el
@@ -2082,7 +2082,8 @@ When applying all hunks was successful, then save the changed buffers."
                (save-buffer)))
            (message "Saved %d buffers" (length buffer-edits)))
           (t
-           (message "%d hunks failed; no buffers changed" failures)))))
+           (message "%d %s failed; no buffers changed"
+                    failures (if (> failures 1) "hunks" "hunk"))))))
 
 (defalias 'diff-mouse-goto-source #'diff-goto-source)