diff --git a/docs/index.rst b/docs/index.rst
index 278abc2447..fbb5bf9925 100644
--- a/docs/index.rst
+++ b/docs/index.rst
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 .. pyhf documentation master file, created by
    sphinx-quickstart on Fri Feb  9 11:58:49 2018.
    You can adapt this file completely to your liking, but it should at least
-   contain the root `toctree` directive.
+   contain the root ``toctree`` directive.
 
 .. toctree::
    :hidden: