diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/cql3/statements/CreateColumnFamilyStatement.java b/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/cql3/statements/CreateColumnFamilyStatement.java
index cffb006b27..972e9474fe 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/cql3/statements/CreateColumnFamilyStatement.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/cql3/statements/CreateColumnFamilyStatement.java
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ public class CreateColumnFamilyStatement extends SchemaAlteringStatement
         {
             AbstractType type = columns.get(t);
             if (type == null)
-                throw new InvalidRequestException(String.format("Unkown definition %s referenced in PRIMARY KEY", t));
+                throw new InvalidRequestException(String.format("Unknown definition %s referenced in PRIMARY KEY", t));
             columns.remove(t);
             Boolean isReversed = definedOrdering.get(t);
             return isReversed != null && isReversed ? ReversedType.getInstance(type) : type;