diff --git a/apisix/plugins/key-auth.lua b/apisix/plugins/key-auth.lua
index f8cfddae0cf8..7196a13e6da0 100644
--- a/apisix/plugins/key-auth.lua
+++ b/apisix/plugins/key-auth.lua
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ function _M.rewrite(conf, ctx)
     end
 
     if not key then
-        return 401, {message = "Missing API key found in request"}
+        return 401, {message = "Missing API key in request"}
     end
 
     local consumer_conf = consumer_mod.plugin(plugin_name)
diff --git a/docs/en/latest/plugins/key-auth.md b/docs/en/latest/plugins/key-auth.md
index 93705111d5bc..985036640cb0 100644
--- a/docs/en/latest/plugins/key-auth.md
+++ b/docs/en/latest/plugins/key-auth.md
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ curl http://127.0.0.2:9080/index.html -i
 ```
 HTTP/1.1 401 Unauthorized
 ...
-{"message":"Missing API key found in request"}
+{"message":"Missing API key in request"}
 ```
 
 ```shell
diff --git a/docs/zh/latest/plugins/key-auth.md b/docs/zh/latest/plugins/key-auth.md
index f45b514e30bd..13a08e7d94ee 100644
--- a/docs/zh/latest/plugins/key-auth.md
+++ b/docs/zh/latest/plugins/key-auth.md
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ curl http://127.0.0.2:9080/index.html -i
 ```shell
 HTTP/1.1 401 Unauthorized
 ...
-{"message":"Missing API key found in request"}
+{"message":"Missing API key in request"}
 ```
 
 ```shell
diff --git a/t/plugin/cors.t b/t/plugin/cors.t
index 924a8b1fad6a..79e32513d98e 100644
--- a/t/plugin/cors.t
+++ b/t/plugin/cors.t
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ ExternalHeader1: val
 ExternalHeader2: val
 ExternalHeader3: val
 --- response_body
-{"message":"Missing API key found in request"}
+{"message":"Missing API key in request"}
 --- error_code: 401
 --- response_headers
 Access-Control-Allow-Origin: https://sub.domain.com
diff --git a/t/plugin/key-auth.t b/t/plugin/key-auth.t
index f68fe3088f4d..5c28e6bada99 100644
--- a/t/plugin/key-auth.t
+++ b/t/plugin/key-auth.t
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ apikey: 123
 GET /hello
 --- error_code: 401
 --- response_body
-{"message":"Missing API key found in request"}
+{"message":"Missing API key in request"}