diff --git a/INSTALL b/INSTALL
index 7643e87da..58ed12388 100644
--- a/INSTALL
+++ b/INSTALL
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ The "configure" script accepts the following options:
 -libs <extra libraries>         (default: none)
         Extra libraries to link with the system
 
--nocurses
-        Do not link the curses library.
+-no-curses
+        Do not use the curses library.
 
 -host <hosttype>                (default: determined automatically)
         The type of the host machine, in GNU's "configuration name"
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 314284dbb..a9ed71e57 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ while : ; do
         cc="$2"; shift;;
     -lib*)
         cclibs="$2 $cclibs"; shift;;
-    -nocurses) withcurses=no; shift;;
+    -no-curses) withcurses=no;;
     -x11include*|--x11include*)
         x11_include_dir=$2; shift;;
     -x11lib*|--x11lib*)