diff --git a/src/compiler-debugging.md b/src/compiler-debugging.md
index 89a763c4..d6d03ab1 100644
--- a/src/compiler-debugging.md
+++ b/src/compiler-debugging.md
@@ -69,11 +69,11 @@ stack backtrace:
 ## Getting a backtrace for errors
 [getting-a-backtrace-for-errors]: #getting-a-backtrace-for-errors
 
-If you want to get a backtrace to the point where the compiler emits
-an error message, you can pass the `-Z treat-err-as-bug=n`, which
-will make the compiler skip `n` errors or `delay_span_bug` calls and then
-panic on the next one. If you leave off `=n`, the compiler will assume `0` for
-`n` and thus panic on the first error it encounters.
+If you want to get a backtrace to the point where the compiler emits an
+error message, you can pass the `-Z treat-err-as-bug=n`, which will make
+the compiler panic on the `nth` error on `delay_span_bug.` If you leave
+off `=n`, the compiler will assume `1` for `n` and thus panic on the
+first error it encounters.
 
 This can also help when debugging `delay_span_bug` calls - it will make
 the first `delay_span_bug` call panic, which will give you a useful backtrace.