diff --git a/modules/directives/src/main/scala/scala/build/preprocessing/directives/UsingJavaPropsDirectiveHandler.scala b/modules/directives/src/main/scala/scala/build/preprocessing/directives/UsingJavaPropsDirectiveHandler.scala
index 1d211998a9..0a3d6abbc3 100644
--- a/modules/directives/src/main/scala/scala/build/preprocessing/directives/UsingJavaPropsDirectiveHandler.scala
+++ b/modules/directives/src/main/scala/scala/build/preprocessing/directives/UsingJavaPropsDirectiveHandler.scala
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ case object UsingJavaPropsDirectiveHandler extends UsingDirectiveHandler {
   def description = "Add Java properties"
   def usage       = "//> using java-prop|javaProp _key=val_"
   override def usageMd =
-    """`//> using javaProp_ `_key=value_
-      |`//> using javaProp_ `_key_""".stripMargin
+    """`//> using javaProp `_key=value_
+      |`//> using javaProp `_key_""".stripMargin
   override def examples = Seq(
     "//> using javaProp \"foo1=bar\", \"foo2\""
   )
diff --git a/website/docs/reference/directives.md b/website/docs/reference/directives.md
index 1d3d6a41d7..23ac860696 100644
--- a/website/docs/reference/directives.md
+++ b/website/docs/reference/directives.md
@@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ Add Java options
 
 Add Java properties
 
-`//> using javaProp_ `_key=value_
-`//> using javaProp_ `_key_
+`//> using javaProp `_key=value_
+`//> using javaProp `_key_
 
 #### Examples
 `//> using javaProp "foo1=bar", "foo2"`
diff --git a/website/docs/reference/scala-command/directives.md b/website/docs/reference/scala-command/directives.md
index 980bcca6bc..304b8e587a 100644
--- a/website/docs/reference/scala-command/directives.md
+++ b/website/docs/reference/scala-command/directives.md
@@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ Add Java options
 
 Add Java properties
 
-`//> using javaProp_ `_key=value_
-`//> using javaProp_ `_key_
+`//> using javaProp `_key=value_
+`//> using javaProp `_key_
 
 #### Examples
 `//> using javaProp "foo1=bar", "foo2"`