diff --git a/components/esp_timer/include/esp_timer.h b/components/esp_timer/include/esp_timer.h
index 1a39ef0a5..79766d615 100644
--- a/components/esp_timer/include/esp_timer.h
+++ b/components/esp_timer/include/esp_timer.h
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ esp_err_t esp_timer_stop(esp_timer_handle_t timer);
  * @param timer timer handle allocated using esp_timer_create
  * @return
  *      - ESP_OK on success
- *      - ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE if the timer is not running
+ *      - ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE if the timer is running
  */
 esp_err_t esp_timer_delete(esp_timer_handle_t timer);