diff --git a/src/groups.js b/src/groups.js
index 4a8635fec..626130f9d 100644
--- a/src/groups.js
+++ b/src/groups.js
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ function validateGroupname(name) {
     assert.strictEqual(typeof name, 'string');
     var RESERVED = [ 'admins', 'users' ]; // ldap code uses 'users' pseudo group
 
-    if (name.length <= 2) return new GroupError(GroupError.BAD_NAME, 'name must be atleast 3 chars');
+    if (name.length <= 2) return new GroupError(GroupError.BAD_NAME, 'name must be atleast 2 chars');
     if (name.length >= 200) return new GroupError(GroupError.BAD_NAME, 'name too long');
 
     if (!/^[A-Za-z0-9_-]*$/.test(name)) return new GroupError(GroupError.BAD_NAME, 'name can only have A-Za-z0-9_-');