diff --git a/commands/api.go b/commands/api.go
index 34cb7237..b13e9165 100644
--- a/commands/api.go
+++ b/commands/api.go
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ func pauseUntil(timestamp int) {
 	rollover := time.Unix(int64(timestamp)+1, 0)
 	duration := time.Until(rollover)
 	if duration > 0 {
-		ui.Errorf("API rate limit reached; pausing until %v ...\n", rollover)
+		ui.Errorf("API rate limit exceeded; pausing until %v ...\n", rollover)
 		time.Sleep(duration)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/features/api.feature b/features/api.feature
index 42eabffc..a33708e8 100644
--- a/features/api.feature
+++ b/features/api.feature
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ Feature: hub api
       }
       """
     When I successfully run `hub api --rate-limit --paginate hello`
-    Then the stderr should contain "API rate limit reached; pausing until "
+    Then the stderr should contain "API rate limit exceeded; pausing until "
 
   Scenario: Honor rate limit for 403s
     Given the GitHub API server:
@@ -453,4 +453,4 @@ Feature: hub api
       }
       """
     When I successfully run `hub api --rate-limit hello`
-    Then the stderr should contain "API rate limit reached; pausing until "
+    Then the stderr should contain "API rate limit exceeded; pausing until "