diff --git a/config/toml.go b/config/toml.go
index f2e60eaf1..498dc6d6a 100644
--- a/config/toml.go
+++ b/config/toml.go
@@ -569,7 +569,7 @@ var testGenesisFmt = `{
 			"max_gas": "-1",
 			"time_iota_ms": "10"
 		},
-		"timing": {
+		"synchrony": {
 			"message_delay": "500000000",
 			"precision": "10000000"
 		},
diff --git a/types/params.go b/types/params.go
index 581cba500..df495b94d 100644
--- a/types/params.go
+++ b/types/params.go
@@ -181,12 +181,12 @@ func (params ConsensusParams) ValidateConsensusParams() error {
 	}
 
 	if params.Synchrony.MessageDelay <= 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("timing.MessageDelay must be greater than 0. Got: %d",
+		return fmt.Errorf("synchrony.MessageDelay must be greater than 0. Got: %d",
 			params.Synchrony.MessageDelay)
 	}
 
 	if params.Synchrony.Precision <= 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("timing.Precision must be greater than 0. Got: %d",
+		return fmt.Errorf("synchrony.Precision must be greater than 0. Got: %d",
 			params.Synchrony.Precision)
 	}
 
diff --git a/types/params_test.go b/types/params_test.go
index beb36e7ec..0aaf1e2b9 100644
--- a/types/params_test.go
+++ b/types/params_test.go
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ func TestConsensusParamsUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 			updatedParams: makeParams(makeParamsArgs{blockBytes: 1, blockGas: 2, evidenceAge: 3}),
 		},
 		{
-			// update timing params
+			// update synchrony params
 			intialParams: makeParams(makeParamsArgs{evidenceAge: 3, precision: time.Second, messageDelay: 3 * time.Second}),
 			updates: &tmproto.ConsensusParams{
 				Synchrony: &tmproto.SynchronyParams{